NOT PULLED DOWN BUT LIFTED UP

NOT PULLED DOWN BY EVIL BUT LIFTED UP BY GOD

Yesterday I walked into a small phone store, and a man waiting to get served was staring at me. I looked away and stood on the opposite side of the store, also waiting to be served. When I looked over at the man, he was staring at me more intently, and his face changed shape, with his neck jutting out and oddly connected to the bottom of his chin. He looked kind of like a chameleon. I could see the evil in his expression. I looked at the demon directly and told it (in a whisper because the whole store didn’t need to know what was going on), but I told it: “Keep away from me in the name of Jesus Christ, and shut up.” His face changed back to something more normal and non-threatening, and then he got called up to the service desk, and when I looked at him again, he seemed normal, and I knew he was no longer a threat to me.

 

God tells us in Second Corinthians 2:11: “Lest Satan should get an advantage of us: for we are not ignorant of his devices.” In other words, Satan will take advantage of us if we choose to stay ignorant of his devices. In the spiritual realm, ignorance is NOT bliss! So I’ve decided to increase my study of the dark side. The devil is not happy with that, but too bad; it’s God’s will for me right now, and I know that I belong to Him. Because Jesus paid for me, I am his and have the victory. The authority and the power belong to us, not the devil! Don’t worry about me or anyone researching the enemy, his kingdom, or his devices. We know that magnifying God and keeping our eyes on Him is primary and priority in this kind of study.

God can fully deliver us from the evil around us. Jesus gave his original disciples and us a prayer and a promise in Matthew 6:13: “And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil: For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen.” Knowing God delivers us from all evil, we can then look at what He says about it.

 

In that scripture, “evil” is the Greek word “poneros.” It means “the active form of evil, in thoughts, speech, and actions. It is used when the Bible talks about the deeds of devil spirits and is used when talking about Satan as being “the malignant one.” We know what a malignant cell is. It is a normal cell that has been perverted into something else, something that grows, migrates, and destroys. Poneros is evil actions that are “harmful, lewd, and malicious.” But we pray like Jesus said: “Pray to thy Father. . .deliver us from evil” (Matt. 6: 6,13), and He does it.

 

Two other words used in the New Testament for bad or evil are “kakos” and “sapros.” Kakos means that a person or thing is “bad in character, morally, by way of thinking, bad company, bad desires, and all kinds of evil just for the sake of evil itself.” It is used in Titus 1:12, talking about when people take on demons having the nature of wild, vicious, biting beasts or venomous snakes, reptiles or other predatory animal spirits. It’s also used in James 3:8, talking about a person’s tongue being a restless evil wanting to harm and injure.

 

Sapros, another word for bad, means corrupt or rotten, like rotting vegetables or dead carcasses. It expresses something of very bad quality and unfit for use, putrid, also like rotten fruit, old, cooked chicken that’s been left out too long, or rotten fish. In Ephesians 4:29, the word “sapros” is used talking about “corrupt” speech, which eats away at a person rather than lifting them up, as the rest of the verse tells us we should be doing.

 

God delivers us from these rotten and evil people and things and brings us around to believing in what we have and are in Christ.

 

Here are some important verses that point out our authority and power in Christ. Let’s take the time to look some of them up this week.

 

I am a new creature in Christ (2 Cor. 5:17).

I triumph in Christ ((2 Cor. 2:14).

I am an heir of God through Christ (Gal. 4:7).

I have boldness and access in Christ (Eph. 3:12).

Christ hath redeemed us (Gal. 3:13).

I have liberty in Christ (Gal. 2:4).

I have victory through Christ (1 Cor. 15:57).

I glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me (2 Cor. 12:9).

I am called in Christ (Rom. 1:6).

I have redemption in Christ (Rom. 3:24).

I reign in life by Christ (Rom. 5:17).

Jesus said: I give unto you power [authority] to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power [dunamis-dynamite] of the enemy: and nothing shall by any means hurt you (Luke 10:19).

Jesus said: But ye shall receive power [dunamis-dynamite], after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you (Acts 1:8).

Jesus called his twelve disciples together, and gave them power [dunamis] and authority over all devils, and to cure diseases (Luke 9:1).

I am the righteousness of God in Christ (2 Cor. 5:21).

I have been chosen in Christ before the foundation of the world, that I should be holy and without blame before Him (Eph. 1:4).

I am complete in Christ (Col. 2:10).

I have the mind of Christ (1 Cor. 2:16).

Christ is my life (Col. 3:4).

 

Love, Carolyn

 

Read other stories of victories when applying the BIBLE LESSONS FROM NATURE to our everyday lives: https://www.amazon.com/BIBLE-LESSONS-NATURE-Carolyn-Molica/dp/B0BV4GC859/ref=sr_1_1?crid=QACB0S8NH0BF&keywords=bible+lessons+from+nature&qid=1676485121&sprefix=%2Caps%2C222&sr=8-1

 

WHEN GOD SAYS IT ISN'T GOING TO WORK OUT HOW WE WANT IT TO

WHEN GOD SAYS IT ISN’T GOING TO WORK OUT HOW WE WANT IT TO

Have you ever been in a situation where you really wanted to do something, but you got this niggling feeling in your spirit that it wasn’t going to work out? That happened to me this past week. I’ve learned over the years that when the Lord is trying to protect us from a bad situation, He can become quite the nag (in a good way, of course!). He knows the opportunities (i.e., challenges) that will be our biggest temptations, and He will begin to pester us until we give in to His will.

 

Thank God, we’ve trained ourselves to submit because, as the Bible says, we do have an enemy who will try to destroy us in any way he can: physically, financially, relationship-wise, etc. 1 Peter 5:8 tells us to “be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour.”

 

What happened is a painter friend called and asked if I wanted to help him do a painting for a neighboring city’s competition. I jumped at the idea. But almost immediately, we both recognized things that just didn’t seem right in our spirits. They put out the call for the job, but when my friend showed up on the first day, they weren’t ready with the application. Then the financial pay for the project was put in these terms: “up to $9,500.” We asked ourselves, “What were the criteria for how much they were going to pay?” The terminology sounded awfully arbitrary! One detail after another made us cringe and question.

 

My friend went ahead and worked on a beautifully-rendered mockup. I worked on the write-up for the application, researching costs for a scissor lift, liability insurance, (both of which were not cheap), and some other things on the business end, and putting together portfolio photos.

 

We both felt it was a good learning opportunity and were willing to do what we did without being resentful. But when the Lord says it’s over, it’s over. So today was that day. It’s not a happy resolution, but it’s the right one, and we both know that makes all the difference.

 

All the positive praying we could do, and it just couldn’t make the outcome be what we wanted.

 

My incident with the mural painting was small, but Ezekiel tells of a much graver situation. The prophets didn’t like the messages God was giving about war coming. They decided to enforce their own will and preached peace instead. God said: “I will destroy you for these visions and lies. My hand shall be against you, and you shall be cut off from among the leaders of Israel; I will blot out your names, and you will never see your own country again. And you shall know I am the Lord.  For these evil men deceive my people by saying, ‘God will send peace,’ when that is not my plan at all!” (Ezek. 13:8-10)

 

When we want something and pray about it, we go for the best, and that’s a good thing. But if in our spirit we sense it’s honestly not to be, let’s remember to stop and ask the Lord what’s up. He’ll let us know.

 

Honest raw truth from God is better than even the slightest bit of “positive thinking” that is not true. The sooner we accept the “negative” message from the Lord, the sooner we can deal with it and move through it.

 

“Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me. Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies” (Ps. 23:4-5a). If God needs to tell us negative things, He will do it, but He also leads us through it, no matter what, and we “will dwell in the house of the Lord for ever” (Ps. 23:6).

 

In every case, it’s better to go with the Lord than go with our own earthly desires. And He will always reward our obedience and faith in Him. Hebrews 11:6: “But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.”

Love, Carolyn

 

My new book is out! BIBLE LESSONS FROM NATURE. It should be available on Amazon this week for sure.

 

https://www.amazon.com/BIBLE-LESSONS-NATURE-Carolyn-Molica/dp/B0BV4GC859/ref=sr_1_1?crid=QACB0S8NH0BF&keywords=bible+lessons+from+nature&qid=1676485121&sprefix=%2Caps%2C222&sr=8-1

 

REMEMBER

REMEMBER

The Israelites grew up knowing they were supposed to remember and recite the great miracles God did for their ancestors and families. They were supposed to tell their children stories to keep God’s love and majesty in their hearts and minds and pass it on to future generations.

 

Recalling the goodness of God was to be an antidote for depression, rebellion, and fearful thinking so that when enemies would come at them, they would have the correct mental weapons to fight. And they would know that God would continue caring for them in hard times.

 

But the Israelites didn’t do what God wanted. Psalm 78: 10-11 tells us: “They did not keep the covenant of God; They refused to walk in His law and forgot His works and His wonders that He had shown them.”

After Jesus came to earth, God “called, not of the Jews only, but also of the Gentiles. As He also says in Hosea: ‘I will call them My people, who were not My people, and her beloved, who was not beloved’” (Rom. 9:24-25).

Even though God no longer requires us to be under the Mosaic law, Paul tells us in Romans 15:4: “Whatever things were written before were written for our learning, that we through the patience and comfort of the Scriptures might have hope.”

The Old Testament edicts are for our learning. I’ve found that remembering what God has done for us in the past works the same way God intended it to work in Old Testament times: to give us the mental and emotional weapons we need when life’s circumstances challenge us.

Reading Psalm 78 this week, I saw that God’s people were far from steadfast. Instead, they kept flipping back and forth from following God’s will.

 

When many died, “they sought Him; And they returned and sought earnestly for God. Then they remembered that God was their rock, and the Most High God their Redeemer” (Ps. 78:34-35). But their memory was short-lived!

 

“Nevertheless they flattered Him with their mouth, and they lied to Him with their tongue; for their heart was not steadfast with Him, nor were they faithful in His covenant” (vv. 36-37).

 

“But He, being full of compassion, forgave their iniquity, and did not destroy them” (v. 38).

“How often they provoked Him in the wilderness and grieved Him in the desert! Yes, again and again they tempted God, and limited the Holy One of Israel” (vv. 40-41).

“They did not remember His power: The day when He redeemed them from the enemy” (v. 42).

 

After reading this, I figured it would be a good time for me to reflect on my own life to see a few miraculous things the Lord did to rescue me in the past. I don’t want to become insensitive to His power and blessing in my current life, like the Israelites in Psalm 78!

 

I remember when I was about 19, I felt like no one loved me. I had even failed at trying to commit suicide. I was alone and despondent and didn’t know how to improve things. My best offer came from a “friend,” and we would go to LA to become prostitutes. God rescued me just in time when my dad’s San Francisco office suddenly closed, and my parents asked me if I wanted to go with them to Chicago. I went. But things didn’t get much better.

 

I met a guy who I really liked and we went out a few times. Then he said he wanted me to meet him late one night at the pool parking lot where I worked as a lifeguard. I was ready to go, but something didn’t feel right, so I didn’t go. The next day when I showed up at the pool, the head lifeguard told me the guy showed up at about 11 p.m. to do a drug deal. He had a handgun and was really angry that I didn’t come. He had all his stuff in the back of the car and took off cross country. My lifeguard boss said the guy was planning to take me with him! God saved me from being abducted by that guy!

Jane tells me I kept my angels very busy back then, and she’s right.

 

When I think back to those years between 18 and 22, I can tell you so many stories of how the Lord saved me from numerous awful situations. I felt like I was acting like those Israelites in Psalm 78, always carrying my Bible around but absolutely void of any Godly wisdom!

 

Finally, God rescued me for good. In Matthew 3:11, John the Baptist says: “He that cometh after me is mightier than I, whose shoes I am not worthy to bear: he shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost, and with fire.” That’s what happened to me. Jesus Christ baptized me with his holy spirit and fire. The fire burned out my old life and gave me power and wisdom, and I never went back.

 

“I waited patiently for the Lord; and he inclined unto me, and heard my cry. He brought me up also out of an horrible pit, out of the miry clay, and set my feet upon a rock, and established my goings” (Ps. 40:2).

 

That’s my story in a nutshell, and remembering it gives me great calm and uplifting. If you ever get discouraged or sad, just take a look at what God’s already done for you. 2 Peter 3:9: “The Lord is not slack concerning his promise.” What He’s done for you before, He can do it again and way more!  

 

Love, Carolyn  PS: My new book, BIBLE LESSONS FROM NATURE, just came out on Amazon! In color! www.amazon.com/dp/B0BV4GC859?psc=1&smid=A1Y53T3O3Q25L8&ref_=chk_typ_imgToDp