General Articles

Supernatural Wrestling Match :: By Terry James

Published on: by RR7

While thinking on a new book, a Rapture Ready news item entered the process. The story represents the heart of end times matters that continue to occupy much air and cable time, as well as paper and electronic print in reporting these days.

That is, the basic subject of the story is covered extensively by secular journalists during every news cycle. The prophetic or end times element within the story is covered only by those such as yours truly in forums such as the Rapture Ready web site, some Christian TV and radio stations and networks, and through books.

One of the most recognized names within Christian circles was involved in making an observation that piqued my interest while thinking on the new book. The observation he made resides at the center of that gestating book idea.

Evangelist Franklin Graham suggested the resistance President Donald Trump has faced since taking office could be “demonic” in origin.

Graham made the assertion while appearing as a guest on “The Eric Metaxas Radio Show” in a segment posted online on Thursday.

“It’s a very bizarre situation to be living in a country where some people seem to exist to undermine the president of the United States,” Metaxas said. “It’s just a bizarre time for most Americans.”

“Well, I believe it’s almost a demonic power that is trying–” Graham began to respond when Metaxas interjected, “I would disagree.”…

“It’s not almost demonic. You know and I know that at the heart it’s a spiritual battle,” the talk show host said…

(Source: Franklin Graham sees ‘demonic’ power in ferocity of opposition to Trump By Randy DeSoto, The Western Journal, November 27, 2019)

Graham went on to say that this opposition is hate filled without seeming cause. President Donald J. Trump has done more to help Americans in under 3 years in office than presidents of the recent past have done with 2 full terms each. He cited the administration’s strides in bringing back jobs and improving the economy in general. Both Graham and the host of the program agreed the resistance this president continues to receive is demonic in origin.

Although I didn’t see in the story the Biblical scripture that confirmed for them this conviction, it was easy to deduce that the underlying scriptural text was likely the following.

“For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.” (Eph. 6: 12)

Certainly, the 2016 presidential election seemed to unleash the hounds of hell against not only the new president, but against all things godly. The very foundation of America, based in large part on Judeo-Christian precepts by the founding fathers, continues to come under attack.

It was a long process since well before that election that lay the groundwork for what we see happening with all this madness today.

The public educational system in the United States has been under assault since the 1950s and even before. Even the private institutions of higher learning fell victim to the demonic influences. Harvard, for example, founded as a Christian school and given its name in honor of a Christian educator, John Harvard, succumbed to the humanist lies from the pit.

I, myself, can remember sitting in a sophomore political science class at university and hearing a smooth, suave, Marxist professor laud communist regimes and lie about America’s founding as being evil.

Today’s youth are largely uneducated as to truth in most every discipline. They have been corrupted and co-opted by the hounds of hell who continue to drive the nation –and the world, for that matter—toward being receptive to Antichrist when he vaults upon his globalist platform.

The devil is at work on many fronts, whether it be geopolitics, society and culture, economics, religion, or whatsoever.

I believe that the true explosion from the minions –both human and supernatural, came the night Trump won the election. The outburst by his opponents was astonishing to behold.

We remember the woman sitting on the curb the moment she learned that Trump had won. She shrieked and broke into hysterical screaming and gyrating. The cell phone camera caught the insane reaction for all to see.

I, of course, being blind, couldn’t see it physically, but the sounds were such that it was easy to visualize the actual video accompanying the absolutely lunatic-sounding shrieks. It was if the poor woman was possessed.

To the rational mind, it should be apparent; it seems to me, that the thinking ability of nearly half of the people in this nation of adult age has been turned inside-out and upside-down. I have written often –and my mind has not been changed—that because much of American citizenry has moved increasingly farther away from acceptance of godly government, the country has reached the point described by the Apostle Paul in Romans.

“And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a reprobate mind, to do those things which are not convenient. (Rom. 1: 28)

As for believers, those who have accepted God’s grace gift of salvation through the death, burial and resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ, we have the ability to discern these things as part of end times spiritual warfare. We don’t have to have the credentials of world-wide name recognition like that of a Franklin Graham to appropriate this discernment ability. We are expected –commanded—to not only recognize the supernatural wrestling match –or end times battle—we are in. We are to prepare ourselves to face this very time in which we find ourselves just before our Lord Calls us home in the Rapture.

“Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places. Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness; And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace; Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked. And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God: Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints.” (Eph. 6: 11-18)

Peace of God :: By John Lysaught

Published on: by RR7

As I’m sitting here in the middle of the night writing, I’m pondering the times when I had peace in the middle of a storm. I’ve had a lot of storms, too many to count, yet I can only think of a handful of times when I had the Peace of God in them. I won’t bore you with the details of those times, but it saddens me that out of all the trials and tribulations I’ve faced, I can’t tell you that I’ve been at peace in all of them as I should.

Philippians 4:7, “And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.”

There have been times when I have felt abandoned, forgotten, forsaken, and all the other negative thoughts that come with the worry in a crisis when I didn’t know what to do, when desperation turned to chaotic thoughts and actions on my part that were fruitless, to say the least. I turned every which way but to God. Did I forget about God? Yes, shamefully, I did many times because I was so wrapped up in my own drama of the moment that He wasn’t even a consideration. Was this wrong? Absolutely.

It is easy to have peace when the winds are calm and the waters are gentle. I love God and His blessings, and pontificate about all the blessings he has given me. I’m proud to be a Christian and can proclaim that God is a good God. I walk around with a big smile on my face.

But man, when a storm comes roaring up, the peace of God can go out the window in a heartbeat. There is no more proclamation of the goodness of God. There is no walking with my head high. How could I proclaim God as a good God when I’m drowning against my will? When my life turns upside-down, how can I have peace? I’ve learned to think otherwise, but it was a hard road to do so.

There are those of you reading this thinking I’m a bad example as a believer, I’m lost, or you’re nodding your head in agreement because you too are feeling or have felt this way. It has happened to all of us, or will. If you have failed in keeping your eye on God like I have, there is no condemnation. And if you haven’t yet, you will, and there will still be no condemnation. All you need to do is get up, dust yourself off and move forward again with God at your side.

So how do we address this? How do we keep the peace of God in us during storms? After many trials and errors on my part, I have learned to be more proactive in my faith, not reactive. It’s about being prepared for the inevitable and unforeseen. It’s taking the steps to condition your mind and spirit for what will come and training yourself to keep that Peace of God in you, regardless of what comes at you.

The storms in life are the tests we face in our faith. Just like school, the more you study and prepare, the more likely you will pass the tests given you with high scores. One must put the time and effort into studying; and for believers, our study guide is the Word of God.

The Word is not only our guidebook but it also encourages us to do well. When we crack open that dusty Bible on our nightstand, and delve into the words written, we cannot close it without learning something about our Lord and how to live our lives daily and in storms. From the Bible we get the Peace of God. From the Word we are encouraged, and from the Word we are refreshed.

When we face life in a reactive mode, we end up facing the world while spinning and bouncing around like a pinball. No direction, no focus, no way out. We end up facing the world and each day with no plan in hand nor goal in mind. We might as well just put a blindfold on and walk outside because that is exactly what we do when we are reactive to our environment.

Ahh, but when we study the Word, when we enrich ourselves with the glorious words in the Bible, then we can begin to prepare to face each day with a plan and be ready to face the dark clouds coming from the horizon. Only through the study of the words from God can we be prepared to stand boldly in the world and be stout in the ways of God to face adversity.

2 Corinthians 4:8-9, says, “We are troubled on every side, yet not distressed; we are perplexed, but not in despair; Persecuted, but not forsaken; cast down, but not destroyed.”

The Christian life does not offer a life free of troubles; there is no promise of this. Yet with proper planning and preparation of our minds, we are able to face those harder days with the confidence of the Word as our foundation on the outlook of each day. We can be prepared to face adversity and troubles we find ourselves in the middle of.

Each one of us will face challenges. They can be relational, situational, or anything stemming from succumbing to temptations. They aren’t easy to face and they take a lot of effort to overcome. We can fight these battles on our own or we can let God lead us through them. When we face them by ourselves, we will only get worldly resolutions. When we address them with God by our side, we will get godly resolutions. It’s our choice though.

With the worldly resolutions, there is only worldly peace that may come with it. The peace is not enduring. It isn’t peace at all. Their solution may carry slight relief, but anxiety and angst will surely come along again.

With godly resolutions, there is the Peace of God that comes with it. Does this mean you will have an easier time with getting to the other side of the storm? Maybe. But… you will have that assurance of faith that allows you to know that God is working with you for His means to the end. And even if it is difficult, there is hope; and with hope comes that peace we all need.

When we seek godly intervention, this includes prayer in addition to searching the Word for God’s guidance. God may or may not drop the solution in your lap. That is His decision, not ours. Maybe, just maybe, we should seek His counsel through perusing the Word of God in conjunction with prayer. You would be surprised at how well that marvelous Book will give you direction on how to navigate the storms of life when accompanied with prayer.

Prayer is just as important as reading the Bible for guidance, because they work hand-in-hand. A prayerful life is a fulfilling life; and when we give thanks to God and send Him our supplications, we can assuredly know that He loves our praise and hears our cries. God will not ignore us. Our deal in this is to pray, ask, and then listen and wait on God.

When we release our worries to God, pray for His guidance and look through His Word for answers, all together, we must be patient; and having patience comes with having the Peace of God in our hearts.  There is no rushing God. There is no forcing Him to act. He is the great I AM and will move in our lives when He knows it is the right time, not when we think it is the right time.

When we have the Peace of God in us, we will have the patience to wait for Him to help. He may help immediately, or he may help in His time, or He will answer in a way that makes no sense to us. Regardless, He is Almighty; and we just need to have full trust and faith in Him and how He wants us to move.

When we have the Peace of God in us, we will realize there are no barriers to what God can do for us.  We need to work on our part to instill the mindset to have that peace in us, and we must look ahead at possible situations where we will need that Peace of God in our hearts to face those storms that we will face.

johnflysaught@gmail.com