Have you seen those viral posts warning about witches and warlocks casting curses—maybe even using owls as secret messengers? With Halloween vibes and Wiccan influencers online, it’s easy to get spooked. Real talk: Some spiritual danger is legit, but a lot is just superstition. The Bible cuts through the fog, telling us what’s worth fearing and what’s nonsense. Let’s unpack it.

First, the Bible doesn’t ignore the dark side. Witchcraft and sorcery aren’t games—they’re serious rebellion against God. Deuteronomy 18:10-12 lists it right up there: “There shall not be found among you… a sorcerer, or a charmer… or one who calls up the dead. For whoever does these things is an abomination to the Lord.” Paul calls it a sin that can keep you out of God’s kingdom . Think King Saul—he snuck off to a witch at Endor, and demons showed up pretending to be Samuel . Or the slave girl in Acts 16:16-18, possessed with a spirit of divination until Paul casts it out. Demons are real, and messing with occult stuff can open doors to trouble . So yeah, if friends are into Wicca or spells, caution flag up—repent and burn the books, like those Ephesians did .

Curses? They exist too, but don’t freak. Balaam tried cursing Israel for cash, but God flipped it to blessing . Proverbs 26:2 nails it: “Like a fluttering sparrow or a darting swallow, an undeserved curse does not come to rest.” Jesus took every curse on himself , so if you’re in him, you’re covered. No need for counter-spells—just Psalm 91 prayers.

Now, the superstition part: Animals like owls as witch messengers? Total bunk. Owls are just birds—unclean ones, sure , but not Satan’s email service. The Bible pictures the devil as a “roaring lion” or sneaky serpent , not an owl courier. That’s pagan folklore sneaking in, not Scripture. Jesus sent demons into pigs , but owls? Nope.

Wiccan spells sound powerful—”An it harm none, do what ye will”—but they’re smoke and mirrors. Pharaoh’s magicians copied Moses’ miracles at first, then bombed out when rods got real . Elijah smoked Baal’s fake prophets—no spell saved them . John reminds us: “He who is in you is greater than he who is in the world” . Satan fakes light , but Jesus crushed his powers at the cross . Most “witch power” is mind tricks, coincidence, or bluff.

So, what’s the takeaway? Stay vigilant, not paranoid. Suit up with God’s armor , test every spirit , and fear God alone. Witches walk among us, curses fly—but they’re toothless against the King. Ditch the fear; grab the Word. Who’s with me? 🛡️📖

“God loves the sinner but hates the sin”—it’s a reassuring mantra echoed in countless sermons. But Scripture paints a fuller picture: God hates both sin and unrepentant sinners, a truth spanning Old and New Testaments. This isn’t outdated wrath; it’s the New Covenant’s foundation for grace, urging flight to Christ.

In the Old Testament, it’s stark. Psalm 11:5 states, “The Lord… his soul hates the wicked and the one who loves violence.” Proverbs 6:16-19 despises proud schemers and liars as abominations—people, not mere acts. Hosea 9:15 confesses, “Because of the wickedness of their deeds, I will drive them out of my house… I began to hate them.” Malachi 1:3 declares Esau hated , while Deuteronomy 28 unleashes curses on rebels.

This doesn’t fade in the New Covenant. Jesus reserves “eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels” for merciless “goats” —personal judgment. Revelation 21:8, under the new heaven-earth, dooms the cowardly and immoral to the lake of fire. John 3:36 warns, “Whoever does not obey the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God remains on him.” Wrath abides post-cross, on unbelievers.

Hebrews 10:29-31 terrifies: Those trampling Christ’s blood face “a fearful expectation of judgment and a fury of fire… the Lord will judge his people… It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God.” New Covenant believers are warned against apostasy, lest they meet a hating God.

Yet Romans 5:8 shines: “While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” God’s pursuing love  targets enemies under wrath , delaying judgment for repentance . Psalm 7:11’s daily anger persists, but Calvary absorbs it for the turning heart.

The myth dilutes this, birthing cheap grace. New Covenant truth? God hates unrepentant sinners to drive us to the Savior who turns hatred to sonship . Repent—the cross bridges wrath to welcome.

Imagine shelling out $50 for a concert ticket—not to see your favorite rock band, but to “worship God.” Elevate your hands, sway to the lights, and chase that emotional high. Sounds spiritual, right? But what if the real product is profit, not praise? Welcome to the multimillion-dollar worship industry, where Hillsong, Elevation Worship, and Bethel Music rake in fortunes from CCLI licensing, streaming royalties, album sales, and sold-out arena tours. Christians pay top dollar for the privilege of singing along to celebrity worship leaders, while Jesus warned against making His Father’s house a marketplace .

The Temple 2.0: A Billion-Dollar Bazaar

Jesus didn’t mince words when He stormed the Jerusalem Temple, flipping tables and driving out merchants with a whip: “Take these things away; do not make my Father’s house a house of trade” . Those money-changers turned sacred space into a for-profit racket, exploiting worshippers who traveled far to offer sacrifices. Fast-forward to today: Worship concerts mimic that chaos. Fans drop cash on VIP meet-and-greets, merch booths overflow with hoodies and devotionals, and arenas pulse with laser shows rivaling Coachella. Hillsong alone reportedly pulls $100M+ annually , Elevation Worship tours pack 20K-seat venues at $40-100/ticket, and Bethel’s ecosystem thrives on song licensing—churches pay CCLI fees to legally project lyrics, funneling millions back to the machine.

Don’t get me wrong: Artists deserve fair pay. Paul the tentmaker worked to support his ministry , and Scripture honors labor: “The laborer deserves his wages” . But when worship becomes a branded empire—complete with private jets, book deals, and influencer pastors—the line blurs. Concerts aren’t free church gatherings; they’re ticketed events where the band is the draw, not the cross. As one insider leaked, “It’s a business model disguised as ministry.” Jesus as the sole celebrity? Forgotten amid the spotlights.

Paying for a Seat at Jesus’ Table

This isn’t harmless entertainment. Believers fork over hard-earned money for an experience Scripture says is free: “Come to me, all who labor…and I will give you rest” . No admission fee required. Yet here we are, buying “nosebleed seats” to scream lyrics like “Oceans” or “Reckless Love,” while the real reckless love hung on a cross without a merch table. It’s the modern equivalent of Simon the Sorcerer trying to buy the Holy Spirit’s power —commercializing the sacred.

Commercial Christianity echoes the Pharisees’ love of “the best seats in the synagogues and greetings in the marketplaces” . Worship leaders become untouchable stars, their songs engineered for radio play and viral TikToks, not raw repentance. Paul urged, “Do not be conformed to this world” , but this world loves celebrities. The result? Shallow faith, where emotional chills replace conviction: “They worshiped the Lord, but they also served their own gods” .

Flipping the Tables: A Call to True Worship

Jesus cleared the Temple twice , roaring, “Is it not written, ‘My house shall be called a house of prayer for all the nations?’ But you have made it a den of robbers” . Today’s worship industry? A glossy den, profiting off praise. Churches, wake up: Stream free hymnals, sing Psalms acapella , and make Jesus the only name that shines.

Support creators ethically—buy albums directly, not arena tickets. But let’s not fund empires built on His name. True worship costs nothing but surrender: “God is spirit, and those who worship him must worship in spirit and truth” . Flip those tables. Make Jesus the celebrity again.

In recent years, a cadre of self-styled deliverance ministers—often dubbing themselves “demon hunters” or even apostles—has surged into prominence through viral YouTube videos, packed stadium events, and incendiary social media campaigns. Figures like Isaiah Saldivar, Mike Signorelli, Alexander Pagani, and Greg Locke exemplify this movement, crisscrossing the United States to cast out demons from ostensibly possessed Christians. They attribute everyday afflictions—anxiety, pornography addiction, even ADHD—to malevolent spirits such as “Jezebel,” “marine demons,” or “trauma entities.” Stadium revivals draw thousands, with dramatic spectacles of attendees convulsing on the floor, emitting guttural groans, or collapsing in what proponents call “Holy Spirit manifestations.” Yet, reports of relapses abound, where symptoms return more intensely weeks later. This phenomenon, while reminiscent of biblical exorcisms, diverges sharply from scriptural precedents, raising profound questions about theological fidelity, psychological dynamics, and spiritual manipulation.

Consider the practices of these ministers. Saldivar, boasting over 800,000 YouTube subscribers, conducts “deliverance maps” and mass exorcisms, claiming to liberate thousands from spirits allegedly inhabiting microwaves or causing depression. Signorelli collaborates with influencers like Grav3yard Girl in New York City events, targeting “hardware demons.” Pagani, author of The Secrets to Deliverance, posits that individuals may harbor up to fifty demons. Locke, pastor of Global Vision Bible Church in Mount Juliet, Tennessee, proclaims himself an apostle—a title he adopted in 2022 amid personal scandals—and has demonized everything from children’s plush toys to dissenting church deacons. Their events often feature participants writhing uncontrollably, barking, or lying unconscious, phenomena strikingly parallel to kundalini awakenings described in Hindu Tantric texts like the Hatha Yoga Pradipika. There, the serpent goddess Shakti uncoils up the spine, inducing kriyas , ecstatic cries, and trance states, as chronicled in Gopi Krishna’s 1967 autobiography. Physiologically, both evoke autonomic nervous system surges—endorphin rushes and frontal lobe deactivation per fMRI studies—yet the former invokes Christ’s authority while the latter channels impersonal energy.

Scripture, however, offers no endorsement for this itinerant demon-hunting model. Jesus and the apostles addressed possession reactively, not proactively. In Mark 1:32-39, after evening healings, Jesus prioritized preaching the gospel over exorcisms. Luke 4:41 depicts demons crying out unbidden, prompting rebuke rather than pursuit. Paul’s annoyance with a slave girl’s spirit in Acts 16 led to a spontaneous casting out, not a targeted campaign. The Lord’s commission in Matthew 10:8 emphasized freely given authority amid house-to-house evangelism, eschewing stadium spectacles. Post-resurrection, miracles confirmed the message , but Paul focused on gospel proclamation . Relapses in these modern ministries echo Luke 11:24-26, where an unclean spirit returns with worse companions to an unfilled house—a dynamic ministers like Pagani acknowledge but attribute to the recipient’s “reopened ground” rather than methodological flaws.

Greg Locke’s self-proclaimed apostleship exemplifies deeper issues. Biblical apostles were eyewitnesses to the resurrection , confirmed by “signs of a true apostle” like unparalleled miracles , and appointed by the church . Locke, ordained young and thrice-married amid a 2022 adultery scandal involving his ex-wife Tai , flouts pastoral qualifications in 1 Timothy 3 and Titus 1. These demand a man “above reproach,” “husband of one wife,” temperate, and of good reputation—standards Locke violates through plushie bonfires, COVID defiance lawsuits, and family estrangements, including public rebukes of his rebellious daughter. His retorts—”anointing covers imperfection,” akin to David’s adultery—ignore 1 Timothy 3:2’s permanence for office-holders and overlook David’s repentance and demotion.

Compounding these discrepancies is a pattern of spiritual manipulation designed to deflect reproof. Both Saldivar and Locke weaponize Psalm 105:15’s “touch not mine anointed,” branding critics as “Pharisees” or demon-possessed. Saldivar, in a 2023 video timestamped at 15:32, declares, “Religious Pharisees hated Jesus’ miracles. Same spirit questions my deliverances—bind it!” During his 2023 LA Revival at 42:10, he attributes relapses to victims’ “doubt,” shifting blame. Locke, post-2022 commissioning at 51:15, labels scrutiny “witchcraft against my mantle.” A 2023 Nashville event with Saldivar  equates opposition with “religious spirits” Jesus overturned. This echoes Diotrephes’ authoritarianism in 3 John 9, stifling the biblical mandate for mutual accountability . Jesus publicly excoriated hypocrites , Paul named false teachers , and 1 Timothy 5:20 prescribes open rebuke—hardly an untouchable elite.

A particularly alarming extension of their influence is the Spiritual Warfare Study Bible, co-endorsed by Saldivar, Locke, and allies. This edition overlays Scripture with wild annotations claiming household objects like Roombas and Keurig machines harbor demons, everyday foods invite witchcraft, and biblical passages mandate binding territorial spirits over cities via public prayers. Such extrapolations lack exegetical grounding, veering into superstitious fearmongering that pathologizes the mundane and fosters paranoia rather than peace . Readers should approach with extreme caution, cross-referencing against plain-text hermeneutics and sound doctrine.

Critics like John MacArthur warn that “hunting demons invites their pursuit,” prioritizing gospel preaching where demons flee naturally. Historical precedents—Shakers’ dances, Azusa Street falls—show experiential excesses across traditions, underscoring the need for discernment . While genuine deliverance occurs, this model’s spectacle, over-demonization of sin or medicine, apostolic pretensions, and anti-reproof rhetoric foster dependency over maturity . Relapses, scandals, and absent fruits  signal a departure from apostolic norms.

Ultimately, the church must reclaim local leadership , integrate counseling and medicine, and test every spirit by Christology . As Galatians 1:8 cautions, even angelic messages warrant scrutiny. In pursuing deliverance, let us not chase shadows but build on the sure foundation of Scripture.

The concepts of justification and peace with God are intimately tied together. After all, how would someone who is not justified and therefore an enemy of God, have peace with that same God? But how does that justification occur? It occurs by faith, which is our belief and trusting in Christ for our salvation.

Here is the way the Apostle Paul was inspired to describe it in Romans 4:1-8.

“What then shall we say that Abraham our father has found according to the flesh? For if Abraham was justified by works, he has something to boast about, but not before God. For what does the Scripture say? “Abraham believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness.” Now to him who works, the wages are not counted as grace but as debt.

“But to him who does not work but believes on Him who justifies the ungodly, his faith is accounted for righteousness, just as David also describes the blessedness of the man to whom God imputes righteousness apart from works:

“Blessed are those whose lawless deeds are forgiven,

And whose sins are covered;

Blessed is the man to whom the Lord shall not impute sin.”

Later in the passage in verses 23-25, Paul summed it up this way:

“Now it was not written for his sake alone that it was imputed to him, but also for us. It shall be imputed to us who believe in Him who raised up Jesus our Lord from the dead, who was delivered up because of our offenses, and was raised because of our justification.

With that as the background, Paul was inspired to write the following about the way that is related to justification and peace.

“Therefore, having been justified by faith, [a]we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, 2 through whom also we have access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God.”  Romans 5:1-2

In Israel today, there is no peace. Even on days when no warfare takes place, there is not peace. You cannot have true peace if there is the constant threat of war breaking out. This is why our relationship with God can be described as “peace”.  Due to our justification, there is no more possibility of war with God. The wrath that was due for our sins was borne by Jesus on the cross. That’s why he is called “the propitiation for our sins”. 

But many will say that it cannot be by faith alone.  Surely works must be added to it in order to receive salvation. We have to “do something” we can see to receive this salvation. But faith is not something you can see, and neither is the new birth! (John 3:3) Yet what about James 2? Doesn’t James say we are justified by faith AND works? Let’s take a look at what James says.

“You see then that a man is justified by works, and not by faith only.” James 2:24

But in James, the subject of salvation is not being addressed. James is talking about how faith is proven genuine in the sight of others.  Justification does not always refer to salvation. The context determines the meaning, and in this case salvation is not the subject.  Here is an example of another place in the New Testament where Jesus uses the same word in this way.

Luke 7:34-36 New King James Version (NKJV)

“The Son of Man has come eating and drinking, and you say, ‘Look, a glutton and a [a]winebibber, a friend of tax collectors and sinners!’ But wisdom is justified by all her children.”

In this passage, wisdom is proven genuine in the sight of others by those who are following its principles. No one would say that “wisdom is declared righteous and saved by her children”. That is definitely not what Jesus was trying to say. In the same way, James is saying that others know our faith is genuine because they see it walk out in our actions.

So we have peace with God because we have been justified by faith, and also because we are no longer having sin imputed to us. Like Paul says in Romans 4:8, “Blessed is the man to whom the Lord shall not impute sin.”  We could never have true peace, which is the absence of the threat of war, if we are one big sin or incorrect doctrine away from losing our salvation.  That’s why it is so blessed that the Lord no longer imputes sin to our account! So if you have trusted in Christ for salvation and done what Paul said later in Romans 10:9-10, you are justified and truly have peace with God!

The Warning of Galatians: Adding On

There is a basic and critical question that every Christian needs to answer for themselves: “What am I trusting for my salvation?”

In my youth and some of my adulthood I was taught and promulgated the Five Step Plan of Salvation. What could possibly be the danger in that? Well, we are to trust solely in Jesus for our salvation, and if we overemphasize checking off the boxes in the Five Steps over faith in Jesus, we run the risk of trusting the Plan instead of the Savior! “Trust” is one of the primary meanings of “pistis”, the Greek word translated “faith”.

Let’s see what Paul taught in Galatians 5 on this subject.

(Gal 5:2-6 ESV) “I, Paul, say to you that if you accept circumcision, Christ will be of no advantage to you.  3 I testify again to every man who accepts circumcision that he is obligated to keep the whole law.  4 You are severed from Christ, you who would be justified by the law; you have fallen away from grace.  5 For through the Spirit, by faith, we ourselves eagerly wait for the hope of righteousness.  6 For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision counts for anything, but only faith working through love.”

Now many will jump to say that Paul is only talking about the Law of Moses, and they would be half right. Paul certainly has the Torah in mind, but look at the basis for his argument.  Why is it that insisting on circumcision as a condition for salvation leads to a false gospel? Because Paul says that circumcision doesn’t count for anything. The only thing that counts is “faith working through love”. Because circumcision is neither faith nor love (even though someone might endure circumcision to show his love or faith in God), it doesn’t count. As a result, it destroys faith.

Really. Period. “You who would be justified by the law; you have fallen from grace.”  Is this because there is something terrible or sinful about the law? No! The Law was perfect. The reason, as stated by Paul, is that the Law is not faith in Jesus.  Paul didn’t say, “You are following the wrong law.” He said “You’re following Law rather than faith in Jesus working through love.”

Adding circumcision to faith in Jesus as a requirement of salvation damns. And that’s a false gospel, as Paul declared in Galatians 1.

So what’s the difference between requiring acapella singing or weekly communion, or a plurality of elders as a condition of salvation? Both add to faith in Jesus. Both make faith insufficient. None are faith working through love.

That is not to say that obedience and works don’t matter, but that they aren’t the path to salvation. They are, rather, evidence of salvation because they are fruit of the Spirit, which only the saved have. We should teach what we believe regarding worship or church organization. But we are not authorized to make those views conditions of salvation. They aren’t faith in Jesus working through love. They just aren’t!  The saved will inevitably seek to obey and be fully committed disciples.

They will get some of it right, and some of it wrong. Perfection will not be achieved in this lifetime, and grace more than covers our mistakes, both moral and doctrinal. Just hold to faith in Christ and let His love work in you as a fruit of the Spirit. But do not add to what is required for salvation. It is faith working through love. Period.

There is a vast difference between knowing about someone and actually knowing the person. I could spend the next few years in researching the life of George Washington for a new book. I could read his personal journals and everything discovered by historians. And even if I feel like I know him, I will never be able to say that George Washington is my friend and we know each other! While a relationship certainly involves learning about them, gaining that knowledge is no substitute for know the actual person.

Jesus, in Matthew chapter 7 talks about this, and it is a passage that is cause for serious reflection by Christians. Jesus is talking about the judgment, and differentiates between the two groups of people in a very revealing way.

“Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven. Many will say to Me in that day, ‘Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name, cast out demons in Your name, and done many wonders in Your name?’ And then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness!’ (Matthew 7:21-23 NKJV)

There are some important things to notice here.
1. Both groups, the saved and the lost, were verbally calling Jesus “Lord”. Jesus is not diminishing the importance of being our Lord, but is rather emphasizing that just saying the magic words is not what means you have a relationship with God.

2. If we look at the entire passage, keeping His commandments is a sign of one who is saved. If I can say this in a positive sense, obedience is a symptom of having a relationship with Christ.

3. But here is the danger. If you look at what the lost ones say, they were doing all the right things as well! What causes their confusion is that they thought that if they did all the things they were supposed to be doing, they would have a relationship with Christ and go to heaven. If their checklist was complete, someone told them, then their performance was satisfactory and they would make it in.

4. From the passage, what is stated as the determining factor was whether or not Jesus knew them. Did they have an intimate relationship with Jesus Christ? What got them into heaven was not what they did, but who they belonged to. According to John in 1 John 2,

“He who says, “I know Him,” and does not keep His commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him. But whoever keeps His word, truly the love of God is perfected in him. By this we know that we are in Him. He who says he abides in Him ought himself also to walk just as He walked. (I John 2:4-6)

If we concentrate on deepening our relationship with God, the good works will be a natural reflection of the vibrancy of that relationship. Our lives will show the power of the love of God working within us. But if we lack that love, we run the danger of doing the works out a need to be right with God through our performance and not have that relationship. Our lives will not be characterized by “faith working through love”, and whatever is not of faith is sin. Even the seemingly good things we do will be sinful because they weren’t done in faith and love. We will be practicing lawlessness and not even know it. If it takes the threat of losing your salvation and going to hell to motivate you to obey God, then you are already backslidden in heart. Are there things you are doing because God said to do it or else, you have fallen away.

For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision avails anything, but faith working through love. (Galatians 5:6)

We, as disciples of Jesus Christ, must make our aim the same as that if the apostle Paul — to know Him!

Yet indeed I also count all things loss for the excellence of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them as rubbish, that I may gain Christ and be found in Him, not having my own righteousness, which is from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ, the righteousness which is from God by faith; that I may know Him and the power of His resurrection, and the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to His death, if, by any means, I may attain to the resurrection from the dead. (Philippians 3:8-11)

There are two types of leaders that really bother me. One has all the authority they need, but refuses to use it. The other is someone with no authority, who thinks he has it anyway. Both usually result in a train wreck. Jesus Christ was neither of those. He had full authority from the Father, and used it perfectly! This astonished those who heard Him teach.

And so it was, when Jesus had ended these sayings, that the people were astonished at His teaching, for He taught them as one having authority, and not as the scribes. (Matthew 7:28, 29 NKJV)

Does this just mean that He was assertive in His tone, or pontificated with skill? No, I believe it goes deeper than that. The previous verses come at the end of the “Sermon on the Mount” recorded in Matthew chapters 5 – 7. And unlike the scribes, who would just read the Law, Jesus was actually expanding upon it! Let me show you what I mean by that.

“Do not think that I came to destroy the Law or the Prophets. I did not come to destroy but to fulfill. (Matthew 5:17)

The word translated fulfill there is the Greek word pleroo (play-ro-o) which includes the concept of completing or filling up. What kind of man would dare to say that he was coming to complete that which had been handed down in fire, earthquake and smoke at Mt Sinai? Only God could do such a thing! This begins the anger in the hearts of the scribes and Pharisees that will one day lead to His crucifixion. They never dispute Jesus’ miracles, and never try to. This assertion of power equal to that of God was enough to incite hatred in their hearts and charges of blasphemy.

Jesus fills out, or completes, the law in a series of “you have heard” and then “but I say” statements. These serve to bring the Law from the outside (mere physical performance) to the inside ( the condition of our hearts). Appropriately, Jesus starts with the Ten Commandments. He takes the commandment on murder and fulfills, or completes it.

“You have heard that it was said to those of old, ‘You shall not murder, and whoever murders will be in danger of the judgment.’ But I say to you that whoever is angry with his brother without a cause shall be in danger of the judgment. And whoever says to his brother, ‘Raca!’ shall be in danger of the council. But whoever says, ‘You fool!’ shall be in danger of hell fire. (Matthew 5:21, 22)

Next, Jesus fulfills/completes the commandment regarding adultery by making it a heart issue first and foremost.

“You have heard that it was said to those of old, ‘You shall not commit adultery.’ But I say to you that whoever looks at a woman to lust for her has already committed adultery with her in his heart. (Matthew 5:27, 28)

Then we come to bearing false witness. Jesus fulfills/completes the commandment by saying not to swear by anything, but to let your answers stand on there own veracity.

“Again you have heard that it was said to those of old, ‘You shall not swear falsely, but shall perform your oaths to the Lord.’ But I say to you, do not swear at all: neither by heaven, for it is God’s throne; nor by the earth, for it is His footstool; nor by Jerusalem, for it is the city of the great King. Nor shall you swear by your head, because you cannot make one hair white or black. But let your ‘Yes’ be ‘Yes,’ and your ‘No,’ ‘No.’ For whatever is more than these is from the evil one. (Matthew 5:33-37)

In dealing with our enemies, Jesus again takes us to the heart of the matter.

“You have heard that it was said, ‘An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth.’ But I tell you not to resist an evil person. But whoever slaps you on your right cheek, turn the other to him also. ..
“You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ But I say to you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you, (Matthew 5:38, 39, 43, 44)

But why do this at all? Why not just say that He was coming to replace the Law with a new one? Because we need the Law to demonstrate to ourselves that we are lawbreakers, already sentence to eternal death by a just God. Without that, the Gospel will be an abstract concept, and not the truly “Good News” that it is. We need the Law to show us our need of a savior and to take us to the cross to find Him.

But the scripture hath concluded all under sin, that the promise by faith of Jesus Christ might be given to them that believe. But before faith came, we were kept under the law, shut up unto the faith which should afterwards be revealed. Wherefore the law was our schoolmaster to bring us unto Christ, that we might be justified by faith. (Galatians 3:22-24 KJV)

The Law gets us to the cross, where grace takes over and leads us to God by faith. We don’t abandon obedience to the commands of God, but are rather changed from the inside out. On the inside, we are justified by faith, and on the outside, we are clothed with Christ at baptism for all the world to see. Just like putting clean clothes on someone covered in mud doesn’t make the person clean, we clean up the inside by justification (Romans 5:1) and only then have them put on Christ in baptism for all to see (Galatians 3:27). Christ is put in before He is put on!

But again, we must begin with the Law, and the realization of the just penalty for sin. Only then can, or will we want to, go to the cross for payment of our due penalty. Then, and only then, are we reconciled to God.

For it was the Father’s good pleasure for all the fullness to dwell in Him, and through Him to reconcile all things to Himself, having made peace through the blood of His cross; through Him, I say, whether things on earth or things in heaven. And although you were formerly alienated and hostile in mind, engaged in evil deeds, yet He has now reconciled you in His fleshly body through death, in order to present you before Him holy and blameless and beyond reproach- (Colossians 1:19-22 NASB)

There is an interesting passage I have been meditating on that has always seemed odd to me. John the Baptist is a prophet whom I have always admired, especially since Jesus spoke so highly of him. But there is an incident that occurs when John is in prison that I have always interpreted as a time where he was having doubts about his ministry. That never made complete sense to me, since Jesus was the same man John had called “the Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world”! After taking another look at the accounts in Matthew and Luke, I have come to another conclusion for you to consider. Let’s look at what Luke said.

When the men had come to Him, they said, “John the Baptist has sent us to You, saying, ‘Are You the Coming One, or do we look for another?’ ” And that very hour He cured many of infirmities, afflictions, and evil spirits; and to many blind He gave sight. Jesus answered and said to them, “Go and tell John the things you have seen and heard: that the blind see, the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, the poor have the gospel preached to them. And blessed is he who is not offended because of Me.” (Luke 7:20-23 NKJV)

I think one problem was that I would stop at the end of verse 22. But in verse 23 Jesus not only reassures John that He is in fact the Messiah, but also reminds him to focus on the big picture of His mission, and not be offended because someone else is getting a miracle deliverance and seemingly John is not. What do I mean by that?

Well just a few chapters earlier in Luke, Jesus gets up to read in the synagogue from Isaiah and fulfills a prophetic picture of what His earthly ministry would be.

“The Spirit of the Lord is upon Me, Because He has anointed Me To preach the gospel to the poor; He has sent Me to heal the brokenhearted, To proclaim liberty to the captives And recovery of sight to the blind, To set at liberty those who are oppressed; To proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord.” (Luke 4:18, 19)

Jesus, by giving the answer He gave about the blind seeing, the deaf hearing, the lepers being cleansed, and the poor having the gospel preached to them, is reminding John of a couple of things.
1. It’s not about you.
2. Focus on and give thanks for what God is doing, not on what He is seemingly not doing.
I believe John asked the question, not because He was starting to doubt that Jesus was the Messiah, but because he knew the prophecy Jesus was fulfilling from Isaiah 61. John was trying to say, “the sick are healed, the lame walk, but what about delivering this captive?” And that is why Jesus added verse 23 to His reply to John’s disciples and reminded him not to be offended.

So what are some applications of this for us today?

Have you ever been striving for something in prayer with God? Maybe it was for restoration of health. Perhaps you were struggling financially, or were battling an addiction. And in the heat of the battle someone comes along that prays one time, and gets an instant reply. They quickly return to health, or get an inheritance from a long lost uncle, or are delivered from an addiction. Or a marriage or other family relationship is healed. While all of this is going on, you are still in the trenches doing battle and calling upon The Lord for deliverance. In times like these, it would be easy to resent what God has done for the other person rather than “rejoicing with those who rejoice”. Rather than focusing on what God has done and being thankful, we are tempted to turn inward and focus on what has not been done and become offended. This is dangerous ground, for a root of bitterness will defile us and those around us if we do not dig it out. (Hebrews 12:15) We are serving a Savior who has promised that He will never leave us, and will be with us always (Matthew 28:20) and that is a promise we can rest in.

Another application of this principle of not being offended when someone else gets an answer from God can be seen in two other miracles that Jesus performed. I would like to call attention to how these stories would have changed if resentment and bitterness had been harbored and offense had been taken.

In Luke chapter 8, Jairus comes and begs jesus to heal his little girl. When Jesus was walking with Jairus to his house to heal her, a ceremonially unclean woman with an issue of blood causes Jesus to stop when she reaches out, touches His garment, and is healed. While Jesus is ministering to her, Jairus’ servants come and tell him that his daughter had died. Can you imagine how different things would have been if he had become offended and lashed out in anger because this woman’s miracle had delayed Jesus from getting to his daughter before she died? He would have gone into unbelief and lost a daughter.

Or what about the man who was lame from birth, who sat at the Beautiful Gate by the temple in Acts 3? What if, when Peter and John mentioned the name of Jesus, the beggar had been offended because Jesus was a frequent visitor to the temple, and had healed thousands of people, but had never stopped and healed him? His miracle would literally have passed him by.

So don’t short circuit your answer from God by becoming offended when someone else’s prayers are answered. Rejoice with those who rejoice and gain courage from the knowledge that Jesus knows exactly what He is doing. Be heartened in the promise that He will never leave you or forsake you. You have not been abandoned. And in contentment, rest in the assurance that God is working all things together for good for saints like you that love Him. (Romans 8:28)

Hope is one of those words that can be difficult for someone to define. If you have hope, you know it. If you don’t, and are hopeless, you know that, too. But what is hope? How would you define it? More importantly, how does God define it in the Bible? Let’s take a look in Romans chapter 15.

Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that you may abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit. (Romans 15:13 NKJV)

The first thing we need to realize is that Jehovah is a God of hope. He has so much hope that it is a part of His very nature. That means He is the source of all hope for His children. Biblical hope can best be defined as “a confident expectation”. God does not wish for things. No, that implies that He is uncertain of the outcome and is just “hoping it all turns out right”. No, God knows the end from the beginning.

Declaring the end from the beginning, And from ancient times things that are not yet done, Saying, ‘My counsel shall stand, And I will do all My pleasure,’ (Isaiah 46:10)

God is the God of hope precisely because He is certain of the outcome of things that have not yet happened from our perspective. So we can anchor our hope in the one who isn’t up in heaven crossing His fingers and hoping for the best.

But how does God give that hope to us as His children? By “joy and peace in believing” (Romans 15:13). You see, nice we come to a realization of the nature and character of the One in whom we have placed our trust, we can experience deep joy. Because of what Christ accomplished for us on the cross, we now have access to God. In prayer and in reading, studying and meditating n His Word, we can daily come into his presence and have that faith built up and our hope reaffirmed. As The psalmist David wrote:

You will show me the path of life; In Your presence is fullness of joy; At Your right hand are pleasures forevermore. (Psalms 16:11)

We not only have joy, but with God, we have fullness of joy!

Whom having not seen, ye love; in whom, though now ye see him not, yet believing, ye rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory: (1 Peter 1:8 KJV)

Another byproduct of the hope we have in God is peace. Even in the midst of life’s darkest hour, we can be at peace with God. We have a calm assurance that God is on our side because if He was willing to save us by His death, He will also see that work through to the end by His life, and constant intercession for us. God gave us grace to save us, but that same grace goes on to change us as well.

For if, when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, being reconciled, we shall be saved by his life. (Romans 5:10 KJV)

So as we increase in peace and joy, we increase in hope. They all go together and build upon each other. So no matter what you are going through (and some of us are really going through it), even if it is the valley of the shadow of death, we need not fear, for God is with us (Psalm 23). We know that we receive our hope from Him who is the very “God of hope” and can rest in His love and will for us.

that by two immutable things, in which it is impossible for God to lie, we might have strong consolation, who have fled for refuge to lay hold of the hope set before us. This hope we have as an anchor of the soul, both sure and steadfast, and which enters the Presence behind the veil, where the forerunner has entered for us, even Jesus,(Hebrews 6:18-20a NKJV)