June 13
1 Kings 22:10-28; 2 Chronicles 18:9-27; 1 Kings 22:29-35; 2 Chronicles 18:28-34; 1 Kings 22:36-40, 22:51-53; 2 Chronicles 19:1-20:30
I highly recommend the movie, “Nefarious”. It is not your typical Christian movie, but the gospel message is clearly presented, and it is an amazing display of how “we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places” (Ephesians 6:12). The movie primarily surrounds two individuals: an atheist Psychiatrist tasked with determining if Edward, the accused murderer is sane and therefore able to be executed. The man on death row, is demon possessed by Nefarious (the demon). You realize that Edward through a series of decisions allowed this demon to take up residence. As time went on, Edward becomes more of a host, and the demon is running his life. What we must understand is though this demon controlled Edward, in reality, even the demonic horde, is only allowed to move only as far as God allows. Satan and the demons are evil and despise humans. God could have wiped them out after the rebellion in heaven. But they serve a purpose. They pose a choice for us humans. Our relationship with God is meaningful, because we are offered a choice, and choosing to follow God is actually a choice. A choice necessitates an alternative.
In 1 Kings we see two kings, one good and one evil. After a display by a group of false prophets, the evil king, Ahab, has heard what he wanted to hear, but the good king, Jehoshaphat, being able to discern, asks in 22:7, “Is there not still a prophet of the Lord here, that we may inquire of Him?” So they find, Micaiah, one of God’s prophets who pulls back the curtain and gives us a glimpse, of the true power behind these false prophets in 22:19-23, “Then Micaiah said, “Therefore hear the word of the Lord: I saw the Lord sitting on His throne, and all the host of heaven standing by, on His right hand and on His left. And the Lord said, ‘Who will persuade Ahab to go up, that he may fall at Ramoth Gilead?’ So one spoke in this manner, and another spoke in that manner. Then a spirit came forward and stood before the Lord, and said, ‘I will persuade him.’ The Lord said to him, ‘In what way?’ So he said, ‘I will go out and be a lying spirit in the mouth of all his prophets.’ And the Lord said, ‘You shall persuade him, and also prevail. Go out and do so.’ Therefore look! The Lord has put a lying spirit in the mouth of all these prophets of yours, and the Lord has declared disaster against you.””
We must understand that we are not innocent when it comes to spiritual warfare. We welcome one or the other. We choose to either be in God’s Word, or we don’t, for this is the way we can discern truth, as we read in John 8:31-32, “If you abide in My word, you are My disciples indeed. And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.” Once you accept Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior we have this reassurance in 1 John 4:4, “He who is in you is greater than he who is in the world”. This is a real battle, and each of us are in the middle of it. Our nation is embroiled in a spiritual battle and this is not as simple as Republican vs. Democrat, for the demons have their sway independent of party lines. We must continually discern. We must weigh everything around us by the proof of Scripture. Again, seriously consider watching the movie, Nefarious, it will leave you thinking.
Messages from Pastor Lloyd Pulley: