Choices matter. For the people of Israel, they were able to see Jesus in the flesh and witness His miraculous power on display but they denied who He was and instead chose Barabbas.

In modern times, we are no different. Through the Living Word of the Bible, the presence of His Church, and the miraculous work of His creation and supernatural intervention, all of mankind can see Him so that “No man is without excuse”, according to Romans 1:20.

Yet many still deny Him and choose instead a substitute that is provided they the Devil. Let us heed Joshua 24:15, and on this day let’s look at both blessing and cursing and choose life in Christ.

The Holy Bible: English Standard Version. (2016). (Ac 3:14). Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles.

We know that God has mandated that we share His message of redemption to the world. We desire to obey God, but the fear that invades our body and mind when we begin a conversation with a stranger about Jesus or the Bible can cripple us, or even lead to disobedience.

Often the hurdle to overcome is identifying a starting point for the conversation. We have learned to utilize crutches like a survey, or we have learned to lead with a question that is not even considered in a post-Christian world; like, “If you were to die tonight, where would you be?” Peter utilized sound apologetics in Acts 2 that provides sound advice relevant today.

Peter’s response to the skeptics teaches us a great deal about a proper approach to apologetics. In 2:15 Peter acknowledged their observation and judgment of drunkenness. With the aim of sharing the Gospel, Peter pivots the conversation toward the Gospel but begins with a spiritual position of common ground.

Recognizing that he was addressing a Jewish audience, he captured their attention by referencing a respected prophet. Given that Old Testament prophets are undeniable authoritarians on God’s diving plan, Peter’s use of Joel’s prophetic words allows the listeners to understand the context better and be in a position to receive the hopeful word.

A lesson to be learned for modern day apologists, we must understand our culture and their spiritual questions asked. This will allow us to listen and respond in grace and truth in a way that engages their mind so that the Holy Spirit can capture their hearts.

Paul models this in Acts 17 when he engages the Athenian people regarding their pagan gods. 

In an era of post-truth is behooves the modern day believer to recognize the spiritual questions that people are asking that often relate to the desire for peace and hope in one’s life today.

The presuppositions of basic Bible knowledge no longer exist and the modern day apologist must sincerely study culture to engage in Gospel conversations. We are caretakers of God’s message of hope and truth for eternity but also for the here and now. For those who are seeking peace and hope today, we can model life with Christ in how we love others. More-so, we can share the hope of Jesus with open and honest conversations that share our story and His story of redemption and love.

If you work with students in your church and would like to learn more on how you can equip them to understand and share the Gospel, check out thisismystoryga.com

The Holy Bible: English Standard Version. (2016). (Ac 2:16). Wheaton: Standard Bible Society.

Breaking news! This alert may come to our devices as an unexpected notification. With the screen flash may come news of celebration of heartbreak.

BREAKING NEWS

A report of change was ushered in as Acts 2:2 describes the coming of the Holy Spirit. It is described as a sound from heaven, and the word “echos”, translated as sound, means “noise,” “report,” and “news.” 

It was this proclamation from God to His church that fulfilled the promise of Jesus a few days earlier at His ascension. While God often speaks in a still small voice, here He chose to speak through a rushing wind; as He did in Job 38:1 and Ezekiel 1:4. His power and might were displayed in the method of this breaking news to emphasize the power and impact of its display.

FAITHFULLY WAITING

The apostles, who had been devoted to prayer, were consumed with the presence of God at this moment while they were sitting. It is noteworthy that they were content to remain where God has called them to be and continue in the work of prayer He had commissioned them to do.

In Acts 1:4, Jesus had ordered them to not to depart from Jerusalem but to wait for this promise. 

Often we are impatient and try to force the hand of God, rather than remaining faithful where He has placed us and patiently waiting for His timing.

A fundamental question to consider is whether or not we are faithful and patient in the waiting to obey Him while we expect the news to break for another sweeping move of God through the presence of the Holy Spirit!

The Holy Bible: English Standard Version. (2016). (Ac 2:2). Wheaton: Standard Bible Society.

Perhaps the most critical person on the baseball team is the catcher. When I watch a game I find myself drawn to his calls of defensive positions, pitches, and posture. He truly is the commander on the field. He is more appropriately called by the baseball community, a “receiver”. This is because how we receives the ball often influences the call more than just it landing in his mit. His position, movement, and command can dictate the flow of the game. In Acts, we are challenged and commanded to be a “receiver”.

To receive anything requires intent of the giver and taking by the receiver. Jesus promised that power would be given and should be received. His intent is not to bless us, but to redeem the world. We are told to receive diving power, which is from the word, dynamis. This word is the same one used to describe the miracles of Jesus in the Gospels. The power of the Spirit that healed the sick is the same Spirit that lives in us. Be careful that this power doesn’t move you to ego.

The second part of the command and promise of Acts 1:8 is that you will receive power and that you will be a witness to the ends of the Earth. By definition, a witness declares what they have seen others do. Our mission is to walk in the power of the Spirit in order to proclaim the message of Jesus to the world.

Like the catcher, our position, movement, and command can often dictate the flow of the game. When we deflect any praise to Him, and when we walk according to the rhythm of the Spirit we then begin to move into the flow of His game and not ours. 

The Holy Bible: English Standard Version. (2016). (Ac 1:8). Wheaton: Standard Bible Society.

Seemingly, what once was considered to be a haven of education and nurturing, now becomes the focal point of debate regarding the reform needed for school safety. Recent tragedies remind us of the problem of evil and the volatility of shifting values in our culture. While both sides of the proverbial aisle debate the balance of constitutional rights and the priority of safety, the church must choose if it will continue to maintain a reactive posture or commit to being proactive. This leads us to a key question, how can the church be proactive in student ministry as we respond to the recent tragedy of yet another school shooting?

The purpose of this is not to wade into the murky waters of gun control, arming teachers, or mental health concerns. While all of those topics are important and should be discussed in a reactionary way, I am under the impression that true change can occur by much more proactive means. Pain is at the root of every school shooting. While it is discussed under the guise of mental health reform, the reality is that hurting people hurt others. The church must evaluate its ministry to the hurting. Whether it is the hurting who consider hurting others, or it is the grieving who have been hurt, the church holds the keys to hope and help.

I hypothesize that the church’s footprint of ministry on the school campus can impact the mental, social, and spiritual stability of our students. I don’t disregard extenuating circumstances, nor do I assume to know all the background of those who walk onto a school campus with the intent to harm. What I do know is that the Gospel has the power to change and that it is a message of hope for those who are hurting. While it has been increasingly difficult to proclaim Jesus on public school campuses, this does not validate a helpless position of the church. The truth is that the church has the answer for hope, change, reform, and reconciliation. Consider three ideas for proactive engagement on our school campuses that could have a bearing on the future prevention of tragedies on our school campuses.

PRAYER:
James 5:16 reminds us, “Therefore, confess your sins to one another and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person has great power as it is working.” Imagine if the churches in a community committed to pray often and regularly for the students and administrators who walk the halls of our schools. We often participate in prayer vigils to mourn the loss after a tragedy. What if we committed to pray proactively for God to open doors to serve those who need hope. What if we prayed for God to empower student missionaries to boldly share the hope of Jesus to their peers. What if we prayed for teachers to share love and hope to those students who show signs of mental health disorders. What if we prayed for Almighty God to move on our school campuses! What if we expected God to do what only God could do. Prayer changes things. This is an old saying that has never been truer, but we cannot passively pray. We must pray urgently and often.

PRESENCE:
Many churches choose to prayer walk their school campus at the beginning of a school year. This is a wonderful and powerful idea, but sadly this is often the only time a church may be present on, or near, a school campus. It is mission critical that a church explore ways to legitimately serve their local schools. Not only does this meet real school needs, but it also creates a presence for the church to build relationships within the school community. Parachurch organizations, like Fellowship of Christian Athletes, serve as an invaluable vehicle for churches to support and develop a campus presence. Other ideas include serving as a formal partner in education, volunteering to read to students, tutoring programs, booster club volunteering, and more. Simply stated, every school in our community has real needs and would welcome your help.

A church’s presence on a campus will open doors in time to present the Gospel. Whether formally or informally, the service and ministry that a church provides to a school community will allow those outside the church to witness the sincere love of the Gospel and see it in action. Perhaps this will break down barriers of division and create bridges to minister to the hurting.

Hypothetically, a student who shows signs of mental and social instability may feel the power of your prayer and may receive the love shown by your campus presence. This proactive ministry could make a difference in their future.

Romans 10:14-15 gives us a clear reminder, “How then will they call on him in whom they have not believed? And how are they to believe in him of whom they have never heard? And how are they to hear without someone preaching?  And how are they to preach unless they are sent?” We must develop and maintain a commitment to preach the Good News on our school campuses. This preaching will not be from a pulpit but will be in our presence to serve.

PREPARATION:
All the prayer and presence a church can provide does not exempt us from the problem of evil, nor will it eliminate future threats on our school campus. The reality of sin means that the church should begin preparing for how it will respond when the next tragedy occurs. Ideally, the presence of a Gospel-centered campus ministry will open doors to respond in a time of need. Grief counseling, prayer vigils, and ministering to hurting families will undoubtedly be needed. The question remains surrounding the churches’ preparedness to respond. What ministry organization restructuring or strategic planning can begin now in a local fellowship so that a church is equipped to respond quickly to a crisis?

How can the church be proactive in student ministry as we respond to the recent tragedy of yet another school shooting? If we are committed to reach the next generation, we must see the importance of prayer, campus ministry presence, and preparation for response.

I can’t help but wonder the possible altering of history had those who willingly chose to walk on a school campus with the intent to harm had been shown the love of God and been given the opportunity to experience His grace. If the church would choose to be proactive in its Gospel ministry the future can be much brighter.

I don’t know when the next school shooting will break the news, but I do know that God does not want us to live in fear. I do know that the people of God have the hope of the Gospel that can heal hurts.

References:

The Holy Bible: English Standard Version. (2016). (Ro 10:14–15). Wheaton: Standard Bible Society.

The Holy Bible: English Standard Version. (2016). (Jas 5:16). Wheaton: Standard Bible Society.

Growing up as an athlete, I quickly learned the fundamental importance of a wide base and proper footwork. Additionally, having your feet equipped with the proper shoes made all the difference. Cleats on a basketball court were slippery, and court shoes on a football field were useless. I recall one afternoon I showed up to football practice to discover I had left my cleats at home. Needless to say, it was not a successful practice as I slipped around the field in my tennis shoes.

Proper shoes made it possible to establish good footing which leads to a good base, or foundation. Choosing the proper shoe for the task at hand makes all the difference. I would not want to go to combat in sneakers, and I could not want to play soccer in court shoes.

Continuing in his exhortation on the full armor of God, Paul turns his attention to the shoes in Ephesians 6:15. Written in the middle tense, the Christian has the responsibility to put on these shoes, and further walk in the identity and truth of the Gospel of peace.

Centrality of the Gospel
Every stable and strong physical posture must have good footing and a solid base. Written in the context of being equipped for war, this principle is even more important. In spiritual warfare, the strong base is directly connected to the Gospel.

The centrality of the Gospel is paramount to a firm foundation in the battles of life. It is the Gospel that is the common thread of hope weaving throughout God’s Word. It is the Gospel that should weave into every sermon and into our everyday life. It is the Gospel that should be clearly understood and clearly communicated.

It is a simple message of Good News, that God created man to have a relationship with Him; but sin entered the world through man’s choice. Sin separates us from God, and cannot be removed by any good deed that we may do. Recognized this chasm of separation, God sent His one and only Son on a rescue mission to earth so that man could be redeemed and restored in right relationship. This redemption required a perfect, blood sacrifice of atonement that Jesus willingly offered with His own life. After His death, Jesus was buried, rose again in three days, ascended into Heaven; and how sits at the right hand of the throne of God the Father. there He intercedes for us and is our King.

Our sin has been atoned for, and we now have a right relationship with God because God has declared that we are right with Him due to Jesus’ payment for our sin. This has made peace with God.

Peace holds.
It is the peace that Paul connects to the shoes. Peace is often misunderstood as an emotion or feeling. In fact, peace is much more than an emotion; it is a state or condition. In warfare, once peace is arbitrated and signed it ushers in a state or season of reconciliation. This imagery is what Paul refers to that the Gospel provides for us.

Readiness is established footing
Being in a state of peace as a result of the Gospel work, we then should stand and walk with a confident security. We can go to battle with a strong foothold and wide base because our security and hope is not in our ability, but is in the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

Every day when you put on your shoes, pause and be reminded that this piece of equipment is a symbol of your stable and secure footing of the Gospel for any attack from the Enemy.

The Holy Bible: English Standard Version. (2016). (Eph 6:15). Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles.

In Ephesians 6:14, Paul again reminds us of the need to stand, and hold our position. Specific pieces that make up the whole armor of God are described, to include the belt and the breastplate.

Beginning with truth, Paul speaks to the standard by which we must rely upon. In ancient time, as well as in modern time, there is an assault on truth. Absolute truth, moral truth, relativism, and beyond result in a debate of action. 

John 3:33 reminds us that God is truth and in John 17:17 we are reminded that His Word is truth. Absolute truth is something that is true everywhere all the time, and God is the embodiment of absolute truth.

Interestingly, Paul uses the Roman soldier’s belt to symbolize this truth. For the Roman soldier, this was a piece of equipment he could not enter into the army with but was given to him, and quickly became his prized possession. History suggests that it was the belt that made the solder identifiable to the world that he was a part of the army.

Additionally the markings on the belt would communicate his rank and position. 
If a soldier was disciplined, or court marshaled, it was the belt that was removed resulting in humiliation.

Bringing that imagery into our understanding the belt of truth, God’s absolutism is the identifying standard for us to follow and pursue. Our truthful conduct should be an identifying mark that the world recognizes that we are followers of Christ. Jesus describes Himself as truth in John 14:6.

Beyond truth, Paul urges the breastplate of righteousness. The breastplate was critical in the protection of vital organs. It could be an ornate piece of metal to identify the army or division the soldier was a part of, but this hardware was the difference in life and death. It could be compared to today’s bulletproof vests. This equipment is required for battle.

When we think of righteousness, we know that Christ’s righteousness has been imputed to us. Romans 3 and 4 describe this in great detail. We have been declared righteous, or justified, through Christ’s blood. 

Putting on this piece of hardware boils down to a matter of understanding and walk in the truth of our identity in Christ. As a Christian, we have been declared righteous, but do we live that way. We should walk in confidence that it is Christ that has redeemed us and we are clothed in His righteousness. This is how we can testify that “we are more than conquerors through Christ” (Romans 8:37).

The Holy Bible: English Standard Version. (2016). (Eph 6:14). Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles.

Livius, XXVII , 13 , 9; Frontinus, Stratagemata I V, I , 26 –27 , 43; Valerius Maximus II , 7 , 9; Plutarch Luc. 15 ; S uet. Octavian 2 4.

Recent political wars have caused one party to cry for others to join the resistance between alternate parties they feel are oppressive. This language is familiar in our post-modern and narcissistic society. Movies like “The Hunger Games” and “Divergent” paint a dramatic picture of a society that organizes against a powerful and oppressive force. While this imagery is entertaining in movies and motivating in politics, it is very real in the spiritual world. Ephesians 6 clearly describes the power of the Devil and his crafty schemes to rule and oppress the world with evil.

JOIN THE RESISTANCE

Ephesians 6:13 is a call to take a stand and resist. The word used for “withstand”, or “stand firm”, is anthistēmi. This challenge is a proverbial call to arms for all of God’s children to recognize the war around them and decide to join the resistance.

TAKE UP

For this to occur, one must answer and obey the commands of our Lord and Commander, Jesus Christ. This requires a willing and submissive heart that surrenders to His Lordship and yields to His way.  Here in 6:12, Paul uses the word “analambanō”, which is translated “take up”. This is a military command that would result in an army to snap into position and take up arms once and for all. It is both intentional and ironic that Paul uses military verbiage to describe the needed conduct for a spiritual war. Of this reality “the historian, Gibbon, relates how the relaxation of discipline and the disuse of exercise rendered soldiers less willing and less able to support the fatigue of the service. They complained of the weight of their armor, and obtained permission to lay aside their cuirass and helmets.” In response to this, our regular and routine spiritual discipline is needed to maintain the strength to hold our position in this resistance.

This discipline is not reliant on emotional swings or pivotal spiritual moments. Many rely on the injection of spiritual adrenaline received from a revival, conference, or summer camp. While those mountaintop moments are beneficial, it is the daily battle and routine discipline that wins the war.

EVIL DAY

Paul urges us to be prepared for the “evil day”. While some theologians suggest this means a definite point in time or ultimate day of battle in the future, I tend to believe this literally means a day. Any day that the Devil can and will attack with evil schemes is considered an “evil day”. Any reader will then realize that this means every day.

If your life is like mine, there is a tendency to be more prone to yield to temptation in the evening. Ironically, for the Hebrew culture, a day begins in the evening and goes until the following evening. Therefore, in this context, those highly tempestuous moments are the start of this evil day.

ANXIETY

It has been my observation that in the evening, or the start of a biblical day, anxiety is at its strongest. Worries of what has been witnessed build and thoughts of what is to come the following morning can be obsessed. An evil scheme of the Devil is to use fear to cripple us.

ISOLATION

Similar to anxiety, in the evening we are most likely to feel isolated and alone. For the child, this may be the reality of being in their dark room and separated from their parents. For the adult, this may be in a hotel room alone at the end of a long day of business travel. It is in these moments of isolation that the Devil begins to work in the “evil day”. Thoughts of worry, fear, and temptation are heightened in the dark.

SELF-GRATIFICATION

This darkness is where the Devil seems to be most comfortable and most effective. These feelings of isolation and loneliness can quickly justify acts of self-gratification. Binge eating, pornography, drunkenness, and other typical sinful activity are most often consumed in the darkness at the beginning of a biblical day.

The reality of war is evident. The call for resistance is clear. The question is, “what do we do”. The need for taking up the full armor of God, as described in the following verses in Ephesians 6, is essential. For the modern day believer, we must begin to view our day more in a biblical sense. Most often we choose to pursue Jesus in the morning. In the evening, we are fatigued and let our guard down. In fact, this it the time we should be most on guard. An assessment of how we spend our time in the evening is crucial. This is an ideal time to practice the spiritual disciplines. Family worship, praise music, reading, praying, and more can help us use our time more wisely and stand firm against the evil.

The Holy Bible: English Standard Version. (2016). (Eph 6:13). Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles.

Wuest, K. S. (1997). Wuest’s word studies from the Greek New Testament: for the English reader (Eph 6:13). Grand Rapids: Eerdmans.

As a child, I was fascinated with wrestling. Convinced it was real, I obsessed with the larger than life characters that would parade into the squared circle and go to battle. The drama and storytelling developed around this entertainment would depict good versus evil and championships won at the highest stakes.

While solely intended for show, this imagery does apply to Ephesians 6:12. In this verse, Paul uses a word that is only used one time in Scripture. Pale means to struggle and is translated as wrestle. 

This significance of this word is that it implies close quarter combat with high stakes. Using this word to a mostly Greek audience, Paul knew that his readers would understand the significance of this battle.

For a Greek wrestler, the traditional consequence of losing was to have their eyes gouged out, therefore living the rest of his life in blindness. For the Christian, Paul paints a picture of this close quarter combat on a spiritual mat that is even more significant and with eternal consequences.

In a world filled with human relationships, we often consider our enemy to be those we hate or who have hurt us. Paul urges us to recognize that our battle is not in the physical, but in the spiritual world. Our real enemy is the Devil and his legion of demons. They work in a world we cannot see and tempt us with thoughts that move us to sinful conduct, resulting in relational pain that is very physical.

Seeds of discord, temptations of self-satisfaction, arrogant personal gain, and lust for more are just a few of the tactics used in this cosmic war. This close quarter combat takes place in the mind every second of every day. Another way of saying it is that there is a world we cannot see that directly impacts the world that we can see.

It is critical that a Christian be aware of the spiritual warfare around them.

This is not a matter of dramatic entertainment but is one of life and death. People in our life are not the enemy but are being tempted and influenced by the Enemy. We must engage in the war at the spiritual level through intense prayer and use of God’s Word. 

Jesus modeled for us that temptation is most effectively resisted by using Scripture. Paul is waving the flag of battle to capture our attention so that we will see the importance of choosing to put on the full armor of God each day and walk in the victory of the Enemy that has already been provided by the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ.

Wuest, K. S. (1997). Wuest’s word studies from the Greek New Testament: for the English reader (Eph 6:12). Grand Rapids: Eerdmans.

The Holy Bible: English Standard Version. (2016). (Eph 6:12). Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles.

As a boy, I recall many occasions in the front yard with my “Red Rider” BB Gun. It was a great success if I was able to ding the bell on top of the telephone pole. When I felt adventurous, I would look to the woods for a hunt after birds or squirrel. This boyhood activity was fun and even fed my need for adventure, but looking back now I see how ill-equipped I would have been if real protection were needed.

In a combat situation, the weaponry and advanced, tactical equipment of the modern day warrior give the soldier what is needed to attack and defend in advance o his mission. The contrast from a well-equipped warrior to a boy with his BB gun is an image of how many Christians try to live their life. We are in a war that requires the full armor of God, yet we walk through the day with just a BB gun.

In Ephesians 6:11,  Paul challenges the reader to “Put on the whole armor of God.” To put it on gives the imagery of “suiting up” for battle. The fact that this must be done tells us that it doesn’t happen automatically, but rather the believer must make a conscious effort to equip and arm themselves for war. 

This armor is not to be partial, but complete. The following verses will describe in great detail the full protection that God intends.

It is critical first to note the reason why this armor must be put on. There is a real enemy who seeks to destroy. This enemy is more dangerous than any terrorist or pedophile. This Enemy is the mastermind of all evil, and his crafty schemes are creative and gorilla in their attacks. 

If you knew that an attack on your home and family was imminent, would you arm yourself with a BB gun, or would you resort to more significant security and combat measures?

To learn more, continue reading Ephesians 6. God describes with clarity how to arm one’s self. We must begin with a recognition of the war around us and a conscious decision to put on the armor and engage in battle.

The Holy Bible: English Standard Version. (2016). (Eph 6:11). Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles.