What Christians Want To Know

What To Do When Fear Comes Calling

Jack Wellman — Mon, 11 May 2026 10:30:22 +0000

F ear can immobilize us and make us doubt, so how’s the best way to fight back when fear shows up?

The Shadow of Death

I do a lot of counseling with people who are fearful that they might die or are in their last stages of life and some even doubting their own salvation because of all the troubles they have. It might be a fear of a wrecked relationship, health issue or financial problems. Often they seek comfort from others or even a counselor, but I can’t calm their fears like the Word of God can with all those precious promises from God. Maybe you can relate to King David who wrote, “Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me” (Psalm 23:4). I’d rather be hit by the shadow of a bus than a real bus, so sometimes shadows may appear to be reality to us. Isaiah the Prophet knew that it was God alone Who sustained him, writing, “For I, the Lord your God, hold your right hand; it is I who say to you, Fear not, I am the one who helps you” (Isaiah 41:13). Now honestly, wouldn’t you rather God take your hand than some human counselor? I’m not saying there’s never a time for counseling, because there is, but any wise or godly counselor will refer them to the Word of God.

Trust vs Fear

I believe fear is the opposite of trust or faith. If you really trust God, you won’t fear anything or anyone. The Proverbs say, “Trust in the LORD with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths” (Prov 3:5-6). If you lean on your own understanding, then your fear can easily immobilize you, but as God commanded Joshua, I believe He would command us, to have no fear. Joshua 1:9 says, “Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be frightened, and do not be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.” Prior to this, God told Joshua that, “It is the Lord who goes before you. He will be with you; he will not leave you or forsake you. Do not fear or be dismayed” (Deut 31:8). Would God do anything less for you? Isn’t it amazing that God goes before us? Why? It is to give us peace of mind.

Fear not, for I am with you…

The Peace of God

You cannot have the peace of God until you’ve made peace with God, and that comes through Jesus Christ. If we have repented and put our trust in Christ, then “we have been justified by faith [and now] we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ” (Rom 5:1). Jesus Himself said, “I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world” (John 16:33). This is not the peace the world offers. That kind of peace can come and go at a moment’s notice, but the peace God gives us is beyond human comprehension. The Apostle Paul wrote that “the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus” (Phil 4:7), so if you’re worried about anything, hear Jesus’ comforting words: “So have no fear of them, for nothing is covered that will not be revealed, or hidden that will not be known” (Matt 10:26). Jesus knows the spot you’re in and will stay with you through it all.

Unload the Burdens

Perhaps you’re like me in that I try to carry my problems all by myself, but in time, they become too heavy for me. Oh that I would heed Jesus’ soothing words of comfort: “Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls” (Matt 11:28-30). You will only find rest for your souls if you allow Christ to take the weight of the world off your shoulders…then you can caste out all fear. It’s far too heavy of a burden for us to bear alone. We need Jesus’ strength, and He will strengthen us (Phil 4:13), because “He gives power to the faint, and to him who has no might he increases strength” (Isaiah 40:29). Again, God reminds His chose ones, “Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand” (Isaiah 41:10). Again and again Jesus has told us through the Word, “Fear not, therefore; you are of more value than many sparrows” (Matt 10:31), yet we still worry about tomorrow, even before it gets here.

Summary

Jesus tells you and He tells me to “not fear those who kill the body, and after that have nothing more that they can do” (Luke 12:4). We are to fear God and Him alone. That fear doesn’t mean a dreaded fear of being struck down at any moment or being cast into hell. The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom. And the fear of God is a holy, reverential respect for God and His Word. Remember, “God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control” (2 Tim 1:7). Whether it’s something you dread today or tomorrow, come to Jesus and “you will find rest for your souls” (Matt 11:30). Trying to strive in our own strength only leads to defeat and frustration. There is no way we can make it on our own in this world. We need the Holy Spirit to guide us, Jesus Christ to abide in us, and the Word of God to direct us. If you know someone who battles with fear, please share this with them and pray for them. When fear comes calling, let the Word of God answer the door. Let God speak to you by His Word, for He asks, “Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be frightened, and do not be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go” (Joshua 1:9). The person who fears God need fear nothing else.

Conclusion

I pray you have put your trust in our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. If that has not happened yet, my friend, you are in real danger of hell fire. And I mean, in immediate danger. You’re one breath, one heartbeat…one accident away from eternity when it will be too late to repent. Today is the best day to believe (2 Cor 6:2) since tomorrow is no guarantee. If Jesus Christ came today, here is your fate (Matt 7:21-23). This is why I plead with you as you read this, repent today…and I mean right now. Put your trust in Jesus Christ. If you do not, you will face God’s judgment after death guaranteed (Heb 9:27) or at Jesus Christ’s appearance (Rev 20:12-15), which could happen at any moment.

Here is some related reading for you: 10 Answers to Fear Given in the Bible

Resource – Scripture quotations are from The Holy Bible, English Standard Version^® (ESV^®), Crossway Bibles. (2007). ESV: Study Bible: English standard version. Wheaton, Ill: Crossway Bibles. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

How To Fight Back Against Spiritual Warfare

Jack Wellman — Mon, 04 May 2026 10:30:44 +0000

We don’t have to be helpless victims when spiritual attacks come, so how can you fight back when the enemy is attacking you?

The Armor of God

Whether we even realize it or not, Christians are under spiritual attacks. We might not think about it that much, but that makes us even more vulnerable to the enemy’s ploys. This is why the Apostle Paul told the church at Ephesus, to “be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might” (Eph 6:10), but how can we be “in the strength of his might?” Paul tells us that we must “Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil” (Eph 6:11). We will need this armor because the enemy’s invisible. Paul wrote that “we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places” (Eph 6:12). It would be much easier if we could see the enemy, but we can’t. That’s why we must take action and “put on” the armor. It’s useless unless it’s put on and maybe why Paul again tells the church, “Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand firm” (Eph 6:13). If God repeats something in His Word, then it must be important, and the important thing in these verses (Eph 6:11-13) is to “put on” the armor of God so “that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil” (Eph 6:11).

Start Praising God

When someone you know starts bragging about their sports team that just won the championship, but their team is an arch-rival of yours, then it’s irritating when they start boasting about their team being number one. In the same way, Satan and his demons hate it when we start heaping praises on God and giving thanks to Him over and over again in worship and in prayer. If you’re alone and you feel like you’re under spiritual attack, why not drop to your knees (if it’s possible) and start pouring out praises to God. Satan can’t stand to hear all of the marvelous things about God, so that’s one way to fight the enemy. Send irritants like praise and thanksgiving to God; it should drive him away. If it doesn’t, then keep doing it anyway because God is worthy of our praises and thanksgiving.

I praise Your Name and the Name of Jesus Christ! I love You! Amen

Worship God

I have a hard time separating worship from prayer, because while I’m praying to God, I am also worshiping God, and when I am worshiping God, I am also praying to God. One way to fight back when the enemy attacks is to start praying to God and worshiping Him and praising Him. That’ brings up another point. I believe we should do all these three things when we are under spiritual attack; start praising God, start worshiping God, and start praying to God. Those three things are like an assault weapon against the enemy, and we know that God inhabits the praises of His people (Psalm 22:3), so if we’re praying to Him, giving praises to Him and are worshiping Him, He’s inhabiting us or dwelling in our praises. That doesn’t leave any room for evil spirits; with God’s prayers, praises, and worship, you can tell the enemy, “Sorry, there’s no room at the Inn.”

Living God’s Word

Satan will ramp up his attacks by sending spiritual or fiery darts at you when you begin to learn the Word of God and when you begin to obey the Word of God. When you are obeying God, you are disobeying Satan and his demons desire for your life. When we do what Scripture says, we’re not doing what Satan wants. This will likely bring on spiritual attacks. I don’t think demons spend much time on lukewarm Christians, but on those who are growing in the Word of God, obeying the Word of God, and sharing the Word of God. When a believer lives in obedience to God, though none of us do so perfectly, the enemy knows that we’re a threat to his kingdom of darkness. When Christians get the salt out of the shaker and light from under the table, then they’re going to face resistance because they’ll get the enemy’s attention. With a mind that’s stayed on Christ we can have the peace of God because we’ve made peace with God (Rom 5:1). Being a Christ-follower will bring persecution. Not because of who you or I are, but because of Who He is, however, following Christ (in obedience) will keep you near the Good Shepherd, and His rod and staff should give you comfort (Psalm 23) and refuge from the enemy, who like a lion, roams about, seeking whom he might devour (1 Pet 5:8).

Memorize Scripture

The psalmist had hidden or memorized God’s Word in his heart so that he would not sin (Psalm 119:11). For example, one man I know who has battled with an addiction to pornography for years, memorized Jobs’ words, “I have made a covenant with my eyes; how then could I gaze at a virgin” (Job 31:1)? This man memorized this so that when his eyes started to fix on something or some woman, he quoted this verse and looked away. I thought that was brilliant! That’s putting the Word of God to good use. Besides, the Word has God’s power in it (Rom 1:16; 1 Cor 1:18). That’s the weapon of Jesus’ choice when resisting Satan’s temptation in the wilderness (Matt 4:1-11). Three times Jesus rebuked the Devil by using Scripture in context and right after Satan had taken Scripture out of context to make it a false pretext. He loves twisting Scripture or ripping it out of context. I suggest you store up on the ammo of God’s Word so that when you are under spiritual attack, you can quickly retrieve the Word of God. We already know that “the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart” (Heb 4:12). Satan is no match for the living, active, breathing Word of God.

Feelings Over Facts

When someone is in a place of spiritual darkness or depression, one of the first few questions they should ask themselves is, “Who are you listening too? Are you listening to your feelings more than God? Are circumstances controlling your joy? Are you busy navel gazing?” Do you ever think, “Even God doesn’t understand me?” I think it’s natural, even for believers, to fall into a place of spiritual depression for a time. Most of us do. The problem comes when we stay there. We must ask ourselves why we don’t believe what the Word of God says. The Bible says we are now at peace with God through Jesus Christ (Rom 5:1), and that means there is no more condemnation (Rom 8:1), so why do we allow ourselves to fall into feelings of condemnation and hopelessness? It’s because we trust what we feel more than trust what the Word of God says. Scripture says nothing can separate us from the love of God once we’ve trusted in Christ, and this means “neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord” (Rom 8:38-39). That about covers it doesn’t it? Now, if none of these things can keep us from God, why do we sometimes feel separated from God?

Who’s In Control?

We know from the Bible that not even a sparrow falls to the ground without God knowing it (Matt 10:29). In fact, He knew it was going to happen. It is the Lord God Who “is the blessed and only Sovereign, the King of kings and Lord of lords” (1 Tim 6:15c), so even the sparrow is under the sovereignty of God. Yes, He is the same “Sovereign Lord, who made the heaven and the earth and the sea and everything in them” (Acts 4:24). When the disciples thought their life was in peril because of a great storm on the sea, Jesus “rose and rebuked the winds and the sea, and there was a great calm” (Matt 8:26), but Jesus didn’t only rebuke storms, Jesus rebuked the demons. In one instance, a demon “came out of him, and the boy was healed instantly” (Matt 17:18). Elsewhere, “Jesus rebuked [the demon] by saying, “Be silent, and come out of him” (Mark 1:25), and the demons left immediately, so the demons had to leave, and in some cases, they weren’t even allowed to speak. Why? Jesus is God and He is sovereign, over nature, over the demons, and in our life.

Our emotions can change from day to day, but God never changes (Heb 13:8, Malachi 3:6)

If we understand that God is always in control, we can let that tight grip on the steering wheel go and let God have His way with us. When you’re feeling spiritually depressed, think about who’s really in control at that time. Is it you and your feelings…or is it God? Who is in control of all the circumstances that are upsetting you? Remember, God can use evil for good (Gen 50:20), so all things work toward your best (Rom 8:28). Just trust God in the process. Don’t trust what you feel. Feelings are very unreliable data compared to the objective truth found in Christ (John 14:6).

Navel Gazing

Almost every time we get down in the dumps, we are taking our eyes off of Jesus and putting them on ourselves. The world suddenly revolves around us. I know…I’ve been there. I admit it…but, I didn’t stay there for long. I repented of my ingratitude and not being content in Christ. I should have realized that I have all things in Christ. I’ve been blessed with every spiritual blessing (Eph 1:3). I am in Christ and have the righteousness of Christ, which has been imputed to me (2 Cor 5:21). It came without works, as a gift (Eph 2:8-9), so how can I grumble? When I have counseled people in the past about falling into spiritual depression, I counted the number of times the person used the word “I, me,” or “myself,” and these words showed up in their conversation almost ten times more than the word “God” or the “Bible.” They, like I, had a severe case of “me-itis.”

Some people call it navel gazing. They are only looking inward and not outward to the Word of God, or the counsel of the people of God, or listening to the Spirit of God. It almost becomes a preoccupation with self, so when I understood that I was focusing on me and not on God, I repented and stopped looking at me and instead was “looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God” (Heb 12:2).

Go And Serve

When people are in a deep, dark place, most want to get out. They might ask, “How can I get out of this spiritual depression? What’s the solution to breaking free of this navel gazing that I’m stuck in?” There’s an easy answer to that. Serve. When a middle-aged man joined our church, he asked me where he could serve. After I got up off the floor (just kidding), I ask him if he’d join me in the nursing home ministry. We provide church services for those who can’t go to church. We reasoned, if they can’t go to church, the church can go to them. And we began to love it…and the people in particular. The man that’s helping me is a single man and gets lonely at times, but when he serves with us in visiting the orphans and widows (James 1:27), he is off the charts joyful when he leaves. He forgets all about his depression or problems. He tells me, and I can attest to it, that after he’s done visiting in the nursing home, there is skip in his step, and his heart feels lighter than air. You can see it in him…he is brimming with joy. Many people feel the same way after witnessing to someone. Sharing Christ does that! Not at first maybe, but afterward, most definitely. I find that one way to beat depression is to serve others. It takes your mind off self and puts it onto others, and the unexpected pleasure is, you come away full of joy.

Summary

As you probably noticed, I threw myself under the bus on this one, because I wanted to be honest and show that spiritual depression hits nearly all of us at one time or another. Some are in one now, some are about to go into one, and some have just passed through one, so I pray this helps those who are navigating a dark, decaying world; a world where it’s easy to get down. The world beats you up, but God lifts you up. He is near the broken hearted and crushed in spirit (Psalm 34:18), so whenever you’re feeling depressed, start reading the Word of God, start praying to God, and starting thanking God. Besides, there are so many who have it much worse than we do. We often take these blessings for granted, so praise God, pray to God, read the Word of God, thank God, serve God, and you’ll have the joy of God.

Conclusion

Here is some related reading for you: Is It a Demonic Attack or the Holy Spirit’s Conviction?

Why Are Prison Churches Experiencing Rapid Growth?

Jack Wellman — Thu, 30 Apr 2026 10:30:10 +0000

W e know from statistics that there has been an explosion of new believers in the state and federal prisons, so why is this happening?

The Broken

We know from statistics that there has been an explosion of new believers in the state and federal prisons, so why is this happening? First off, those who have been sent to jail or prison have come to an end of themselves. Often they have nowhere else to turn to and the only way out is to look up, so many have come to faith in Jesus Christ in a crisis. But the good news is, God can only fix those who are broken. Jesus still bids all to “Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest” (Matt 11:28). Unless a person comes to an end of themselves, God cannot work in their lives. If they are full of themselves, God cannot fill them with His Spirit. God resists the proud, but He will pour out His grace on the humble (James 4:6), so only with surrender is there victory.

Repent and Believe

When a person comes to the end of their rope, often it is God Who has been waiting there all the time. Until a person is broken over their sin and realize the infinite gap that is between them and a holy God, they cannot be saved. God gives His free gift of grace to all who believe in the Son (Eph 2:8-9), but Jesus Himself in introducing the gospel said a person must repent and believe (Mark 1:15). When anyone, prisoner or free, comes to faith in Christ, they humble themselves, confess their sin and repent of their former life of sin. They will still sin, yes, but over time, they will sin less. Not sinless, but sinning less. They now desire to please God and not man or themselves because they love Him. The new creation in Christ (2 Cor 5:17) now strives, out of love, to live a holier life…and generally, they will!

“I was in prison and you came to me”

Prison Fellowship

Prison Fellowship(.org) is one of our partners in ministry and their example shows us what great good the church can do inside the prisons. Prison Fellowship equips Christians to serve currently and formerly incarcerated people and their families, and to advocate for justice and human dignity. This fits God’s schematic when He created human beings; no matter what, every person was created in the image of God (Gen 1:27-28) and deserves the dignity they receive. Yes, the image of God is now tarnished (just as it is in me!), but it’s not altogether absent. When we treat people with dignity and respect (prisoners included!), we agree with God that we are no respecter of persons (Acts 10:34). I’ve had people ask me why I go into the prisons. What’s the use, they think, but then I say, “What if the prisoner I visited was your brother, your father or your son?” That usually stops the discussion. The foot of the cross has always been on the same level of ground we all must stand upon.

A Great Harvest

I find it interesting that many are being set free in prison while outside the walls, people are still held captive by the god of this world (2 Cor 4:3-6). We cannot say exactly why prison churches are experiencing significant growth (but God does), although much of this growth has been driven by a surge in, and adoption of, church-planting initiatives inside correctional facilities. Organizations like Prison Fellowship and God Behind Bars work with local churches to establish, campus-style ministries. Other churches, like ours, have their own prison ministry. In fact, most prison ministries are not large, but rather small and come from local or regional churches where volunteers come in and counsel inmates, provide Bible studies and preaching. Perhaps it is all of these rich resources (the Bible and the people of God) that has caused high attendance and church growth, although God is working all these things together for all believer’s good (Rom 8:28), so all glory and credit must go to God. And that means all the more who will hear the gospel and might be saved.

Summary

When Jesus was speaking of the end days and coming judgment of Jerusalem (in 70 AD), He identified those who were truly saved and genuinely being used by God, and those who were just playing church and pleasing only themselves. It will be “When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, then he will sit on his glorious throne. Before him will be gathered all the nations, and he will separate people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats” (Matt 25:31-32), so how does Jesus separate them? He says that when I was hungry, thirsty, a stranger to you (Matt 25:35), you actually ministered to Me (Matt 25:40), but also, when “I was in prison and you came to me” (Matt 25:36c). This could refer to those who would be in prison for their faith, but it’s not limited to that since we’re told to go into all the world, and that must include nursing homes and prisons. Jesus’ point is whatever we do for the “least of these” (Matt 25:40) or other believers (wherever they may be), we are actually doing this to Jesus. How? It is because He is the Head of the Church, and what we do for other believers, we are actually doing this unto Him. And by the way, all of us are the “least of these.”

Conclusion

The reason that there has been such rapid growth in the prison churches is God alone Who saves (Acts 4:12) because He alone gives the increase (Acts 2:47), but He is pleased to use us as a means to reach His ends, chiefly to preach repentance and faith in Christ. We are in such dire need of volunteers and pastors to go into the prisons. In many cases, there is only one pastor to serve an entire prison church. Won’t you enter the mission field? The harvest is plentiful, but the workers are so few (Matt 9:37).

Finally, I pray you have put your trust in our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. If that has not happened yet, my friend, you are in real danger of hell fire. And I mean, in immediate danger. You’re one breath, one heartbeat…one accident away from eternity when it will be too late to repent. Today is the best day to believe (2 Cor 6:2) since tomorrow is no guarantee. If Jesus Christ came today, here is your fate (Matt 7:21-23). This is why I plead with you as you read this, repent today…and I mean right now. Put your trust in Jesus Christ. If you do not, you will face God’s judgment after death guaranteed (Heb 9:27) or at Jesus Christ’s appearance (Rev 20:12-15), which could happen at any moment.

Here is some related reading for you: How to Start a Prison Ministry

How to Reassure Your Children (and yourself) in the Shadow of World War Three

Jack Wellman — Mon, 27 Apr 2026 10:30:28 +0000

P arents can help alleviate many of their fears their children have, but what about the children’s fear of World War Three, knowing their parents are helpless to stop it?

Parental Protection

Parents can help alleviate many of their fears their children have, but what about the children’s fear of World War Three, knowing their parents are helpless to stop it? Parents have the duty to protect, nourish, and above all, love their children, but there are some things we can’t protect them from. We can’t be with them every minute, so parents can protect their children from harm…up to a point. Parents have to admit this, but they also have another resource most of the world doesn’t have or even think about. It is God Who can protect them. When they’re unseen by us, they’re always seen by God. We have to pray to God and trust Him for things that we have no control over. And it’s okay to tell your children this. They can trust their parents, but God, even more so, and they need to hear that too.

God as Protector

God is a protector and guardian over the children of believers, so tell them! They are set apart (sanctified) by God for those parents who believe (1 Cor 7:14). If parents show no fear about the violent state of the world (i.e., wars), then the child will pick up on that and have a calmer mind about things. But, if a parent shows apprehension, fear and overly worries about things, the child will take note of that and may become anxious about the way the world is. More is caught than taught.

The Peace of God

When Jesus was about to leave the disciples and go to Calvary, they were deeply troubled, so when your children are troubled, remind them of the promise Jesus gave to His own disciples, but also to us. Our Lord promised, “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid” (John 14:27). The Lord “said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world” (John 16:33). Jesus’ peace does not come and go with circumstances, but resides in the heart, permanently. Why? It is because it is His peace and not ours. Any human peace we might come up with can fail and come and go like the tide, but Jesus’ peace is true peace because He is able to deliver on every precious promise. So tell your children about the peace of God. It is a peace that surpasses human understanding (Phil 4:7), even dad and moms.

On His Throne

If children understood the doctrine of God’s sovereignty, it might give them more peace of mind about the world wars and violence and escalating inflation. God’s sovereignty is just that: It is where God allows all things to happen for our very best (Rom 8:28), no matter what happens. God sees everything and is never caught by surprise, knowing the end from the beginning (Isaiah 46:10). Has it ever occurred to you that nothing has ever occurred to God? He is on His throne, directing events in human history to do His good pleasure, no matter what things look like. Even though we have free will, God uses human freewill to work into His will, like at Calvary. As to how to reconcile freewill and God’s sovereignty, I have no idea. I just know that it’s true, so tell your children nothing in the entire universe is out of His control.

Things that parents can’t control, and children obviously can’t control, are things that God can and always does control. He always has and He always will. When things are impossible for us, they are always possible for Him (Matt 19:26). Children (grandchildren, etc.) need to hear that, but more so, they need to know that you believe that so that they will believe that too. Tell them! That’s a parental responsibility that God will hold parents accountable for (Deut 6:7-9; Prov 22:6).

Who’s in Control?

Horace Vernet, Jeremiah on the ruins of Jerusalem (1844).

Only God could tell Jeremiah the Prophet, “See, I have set you this day over nations and over kingdoms, to pluck up and to break down, to destroy and to overthrow, to build and to plant” (Jer 1:9). Actually the Prophet would foretell of the fall of Judah but other nations too. It wasn’t Jeremiah’s idea (Jer 1:6) but God’s (Jer 1:7-8). The Prophet Daniel also understood that “The sentence is by the decree of the watchers, the decision by the word of the holy ones, to the end that the living may know that the Most High rules the kingdom of men and gives it to whom he will and sets over it the lowliest of men” (Dan 4:17). So tell your children that God “rules the kingdom of men” and is fully involved in their lives too. Remind them of the promises of God so that they can pillow their head at night on them. The late Dr. John MacArthur said that the “Sovereignty of God is the softest pillow of all.” And he is so right. Maybe your children can rest in the fact God is in total, absolute control, even if it doesn’t look like it. God has ways of using evil for good (Gen 50:20; John 3:16).

Conclusion

Here is some related reading for you: Why Believes Should Never Fear World War Three

How to Strengthen Your Faith in God

Jack Wellman — Mon, 20 Apr 2026 10:30:20 +0000

If you feel like your faith is weak, then here’s a great way to strengthen it and it starts with daily reading of the Bible.

What is Faith?

Faith is having trust in something or someone, and in the believer’s case, their faith is placed in Jesus Christ. This faith was a free gift from God (Eph 2:8-9) so that the believer can share the gospel here on earth through good works (Eph 2:10). We can’t earn faith because it is a gift. Did you get a birthday present last year? Did you really do anything to deserve it? Were you responsible for your birth? Was the time of your birth your choice? Of course it is no to all of these questions. If the grace of God is a free gift, it means we can’t earn it nor did we deserve it. Its God’s mercy on us who trust in Jesus Who bore our sins upon Himself. We trust in the finished work of Christ, not in our own efforts or works, although the believer does do works. We are not saved by works but saved for works, but faith is a free gift of God, so even our faith was initiated by God (Rom 8; Eph 1). I have faith in the bridge I drive over, even though I’ve never inspected it or looked underneath it. I trust it because it’s proved faithful time and again, but more so do I trust Jesus Christ alone to save me. I trust Him more than any bridge, for He is the Creator of all things.

“Help My Unbelief!”

When Jesus’ disciples failed to cast out a demon, the boy’s father came to Jesus, pleading for help. In a rebuke, Jesus said, “O faithless generation, how long am I to be with you? How long am I to bear with you? Bring him to me” (Mark 9:19). Then, “Jesus asked his father, “How long has this been happening to him?” And he said, “From childhood” (Mark 9:21). That’s when “Jesus said to him, “‘If you can’! All things are possible for one who believes” (Mark 9:23). Did this man have faith in Christ? Did he truly believe or did he have doubts? The man did believe, but was still weak in the faith, so “Immediately the father of the child cried out and said, “I believe; help my unbelief” (Mark 9:24)! Unbelief is the same as not believing, so perhaps the man’s faith was so weak that he asked the Lord for help to strengthen his faith in the Lord. We can do that too. When you feel your faith weakening, pray to the Lord to strengthen your faith or “help [your] unbelief.” I know you believe, but when crisis’ comes, do we truly, genuinely believe God is still in control on His throne (Rom 8:28)? That’s a mark that you do believe in all His promises.

We must remember to pray with faith.

Feelings Over Facts

How often I have heard people doubt their salvation. Many times people say that “I feel like I’m lost and God has forsaken me” or “I feel like I am too far gone and God has probably given up on me.” Here is what’s wrong with these statements. They are ranking feelings over facts. Someone might feel this way or that, but what is the truth? They might feel like they were once saved, but now, they feel as lost as ever. The Bible says that the saved stay saved (1 John 2:19) and that we cannot lose what we did not first gain in the first place (Eph 2:8-9). Who or what can keep us separated from our God (Rom 8:37-39; John 6:37-44, 10:27-38)? When we say we feel like this or that, we must check that feeling at the door when we are reassured from Scripture. I would rather follow someone to a town I’ve never been to who has been there than from someone who feels like it may be this way or that way. Don’t depend on feelings. Feelings are the shallowest part of human wisdom or understanding. Check the map. Our map for life is the Bible. Get into the Bible every day and the Bible will get into you, and your faith will rest in facts and not in feelings.

The Sanctuary of the Word

“…faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ”

The best way to strengthen your faith is to get into the Word of God, the Bible. Having a daily Bible reading plan is essential to fortifying your faith. The more you read the trusted promises of God in Scripture, the more you can rest in the hands of His precious promises (Rom 8; Eph 1; 1 Pet 1). The more you avoid Scripture, the harder it is to get back to it. It’s like attending church. You miss one Sunday and it’s easier to miss the next, and the next, and after you know it, you don’t even attend anymore. Don’t let that happen to your worship (Heb 10:24-25) or to your Bible study and reading. You do understand that “…faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ” (Rom 10:17), so nurture, strengthen, and increase your faith by increasing and strengthening your daily Bible reading plan.

Conclusion

Here is some related reading for you: What Does the Bible Say About Faith? A Christian Study

Eternal Insecurity – Tackling Difficult Passages Like Hebrews 6

Jack Wellman — Thu, 16 Apr 2026 10:30:58 +0000

Many Christians live with the fear that they can be lost again after they’ve been saved, but what does the Bible say about eternal security?

Hebrews 6

Many people base their belief that they can lose their salvation on Hebrews chapter 6:4-6 which says: “For it is impossible, in the case of those who have once been enlightened, who have tasted the heavenly gift, and have shared in the Holy Spirit, and have tasted the goodness of the word of God and the powers of the age to come, and then have fallen away, to restore them again to repentance, since they are crucifying once again the Son of God to their own harm and holding him up to contempt.”

First of all, notice that they only “tasted the goodness of the word of God” and didn’t partake in it. I tried to eat broccoli once, taking a very small bite, and I hated it, but I only tasted it and didn’t really eat it (I couldn’t even swallow it!), so tasting and partaking are surely not the same thing. The author speaks about false converts who heard the Word of God and saw the blessings from God and His Word and maybe even witnessed miracles, but they never fully trusted in Christ. After being exposed to the gospel numerous times, they fall away intentionally. At a certain point, they cannot be restored to Christ. The more someone hears and rejects the gospel, the harder it is to hear to the Spirit’s voice. That’s why the call is to believe “today,” lest they harden their hearts and turn away forever (Psalm 95:7-11; 2 Cor 6:2; Heb 3:15). By their rejecting Christ time and time again, they show their contempt for the Lord and the blood of Christ.

Enlightened but Unmoved

The term “once enlightened” in Hebrews 6:4 refers to already having a certain level of biblical truth. Once they know enough of the gospel, they are “enlightened” enough to receive Christ or reject Him. The “enlightened” unbelievers who have been exposed to God’s redemptive truth might have even made a profession of faith, but there was never really genuine saving faith that comes with repentance. To have “tasted of the heavenly gift” (which is the Holy Spirit), the author means to say (in Heb 6:4) that they did not consume it but only “tasted ” it. Even the phrase “shared in the Holy Spirit” indicates their having a proximity to and familiarity with the Holy Spirit’s work, but they’ve only been witness to salvation, meaning they have not fully trusted in Christ. I can believe that there are actual jet aircraft, but if I never get on one, do I really trust in them? Even the demons know the gospel and tremble before God, but that head knowledge doesn’t save them (James 2:19). Intellectual knowledge of the gospel saves no one. Trust in Christ does. Hebrews 6 certainly applies to those we witness to today who reject our messge over and over again.

Fully Persuaded

Hebrews 6:9-12 gives us the final answer as to whether a believer can be lost, once they are saved, but we must read this entire chapter in context to find the answer.

“But, beloved, we are convinced of better things regarding you, and things that accompany salvation, even though we are speaking in this way. For God is not unjust so as to forget your work and the love which you have shown toward His name, by having served and by still serving the saints. And we desire that each one of you demonstrate the same diligence, so as to realize the full assurance of hope until the end, so that you will not be sluggish, but imitators of those who through faith and endurance inherit the promises.”

Demonstrated Faith

Believers will continue to be “serving the saints” and will not walk away from the church. The author is “convinced of better things regarding you” (Heb 6:9), so you can tell he is writing to two different groups or audiences. False-profession-of-faith people and those who “demonstrate the same diligence” and can then “realize the full assurance of hope until the end.” These believers don’t sound like they should be worried, or fear the danger of losing their salvation. In fact, the author is actually trying to bolster the faith of believers if we read the entire chapter in context.

Only a Taste

A good example of having tasted in the Lord’s work but not fully accepting Him is Simon the sorcerer who “believed and was baptized.” He followed Philip the evangelist, and professed belief and even got baptized, however Simon was only “astonished by the great signs and miracles he saw” (Acts 8:13). Simon was still not saved (see Acts 8:20–23), so the idea of “falling away” in Hebrews 6:6 is the act of turning one’s back on the revelation God has given and only having tasted of truth, and tasting of the truth is not enough to keep a person from falling away from the truth. Simon was impressed by the “great signs and wonders” and not broken over his sin. Surely not all who profess Christ actually possess Christ. I remember only 1 in 4 seeds in the Parable of the Sower survived the harsh conditions.

Summary

I pray this helps you have more peace of mind about your own salvation. God will complete what He has started. God has no aborted children! Whatever He began, He will complete, and since we did not initiate our own salvation (Eph 2:8-9), we cannot destroy our own salvation (Rom 8:37-39). God does not take gifts back (Eph 2:8-9)! The gift of eternal life is just that…eternal! Otherwise, it would not be called eternal life. Nothing that is created can ever separate the true believer from God, even the believer himself. Can you imagine sharing a gospel that says that whoever believes in Jesus Christ shall never perish (John 3:16)…but be careful because you could lose it? That takes the dynamic power of the gospel away (Rom 1:16; 1 Cor 1:18). No! It’s eternal life, meaning no one, not even we ourselves, can touch it (John 6:37-44, 10:28-29). If someone proclaims faith in Christ and then walks away, they were never saved in the first place (1 John 2:19) and never had eternal life. If they claim to lose it, they never really had it. If it wasn’t eternal (Eph 2:8-9), then it wasn’t eternal life in the first place. Eternal, by definition, does not end! Even the Prodigal didn’t stay in the pigpen.

Conclusion

Here is some related reading for you: What Are the Signs You Have Genuine Saving Faith?

The Great War on the Bible in America and Elsewhere

Jack Wellman — Mon, 13 Apr 2026 10:30:53 +0000

There’s a war on…but this war is directed against the Word of God where the Bible is increasingly being banned as “hate speech.”

The War on the Bible

There’s a war on…but this war is directed against the Word of God where the Bible is increasingly being banned as “hate speech” so how long do you think it will be before the Bible is banned in America, or will it ever be? In the course of human history, the Bible has been banned, burned, banished, and forbidden, but this hasn’t stopped the Word of God from going out into the world. In one remote part of the world in Africa, there was so much opposition to the Bible that the Muslims went from house to house trying to find a copy of the Bible, and if they found it, they would not only burn it, but sometimes the person who it was found with, but to those who hold to the precious Word of God, they don’t care. They have such a hunger and thirst for the Word of God that they are willing to risk their life for possessing a Bible.

Hiding God’s Word

There was a group who had only one Bible, but they all wanted to read it, so what did they do? They took the Bible apart and gave each person one book of the Bible (i.e. the Gospel of John). Then, thirty days later, they came back and exchanged their book for another and memorized that one. After a few years, the over dozen men had memorized much of the Bible and could recite it by heart to those who didn’t have a Bible. They had hid God’s Word in their heart. In this way, even if they came and confiscated the Bible, they couldn’t touch their minds which had the rich Word of God in memory. They might remove the physical part (the Bible) but they can’t touch what’s been hidden in a person’s heart. In many nations, the Bible is illegal to own, however they just don’t get it? God’s Word is indestructible.

Forbidden Preaching

When it comes time to preaching the gospel in Canada, there are some Bible verses that this nation now considers hate speech and a pastor can be jailed and fined for preaching it, but this is nothing compared to how other nations are persecuting preachers of the Word. An American evangelist said he was arrested and interrogated about his Christian faith after he was caught on a London sidewalk preaching that homosexuality is a sin, even though the Bible states that it is. There was a Swedish pastor who preached a sermon on the Biblical prohibitions against homosexual behavior and was waiting to see if the Supreme Court of Sweden will send him to jail for six months for doing so. The pastor was charged with violating a Swedish hate speech law that protects homosexuals from “intimidation” and “agitation.”

Attacked for the Word

And sometimes there doesn’t even have to be a target audience for preaching as retired Pastor James McConnell found out. He was still waiting to see if his next sermon will be given from a prison pulpit or not. What was his crime? On May 18, 2014, the 79-year-old pastor was speaking at the church he founded in Belfast, Ireland and simply preached a sermon on 1 Timothy 2:5: “For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus.” Pastor McConnell reacted to a pregnant Muslim woman who was converted to Christianity and received 80 lashes and had a death sentence hanging over her head. The pastor was warned about the potential of being arrested for telling the truth that Islam is satanic and is a “doctrine spawned in hell.”

Anti-Preaching Laws

The Canadian government apparently has an ax to grind against biblical preaching. Preaching only about the love of God is okay, but if a preacher mentions specific sins and those who do these sins are in danger of God’s judgment, then it is considered hate speech and the consequences are not just a slap on the wrist. Father Alphonse de Valk, who is Canada’s leading pro-life voice among Catholic clergy, has said that the Alberta Human Rights Tribunal has forbidden evangelical pastor Stephen Boisson from expressing his moral opposition to homosexuality. Boisson was told to apologize to the “human rights” advocate who filed the complaint, and then they threatened him with a $5,000 fine for the “pain and suffering” he caused the man. We could expect this from the tribunals in Stalin’s Soviet Union or in Mao’s China, but in Canada? And perhaps the US is next with such laws.

Biblical Persecution

In the end, the courts ordered Boisson to provide the complainant with a written apology for his letter to the editor, but Ezra Levant, a Jewish-Canadian author and lawyer, said it’s “This is like a Third World jail-house confession — where accused criminals are forced to sign false statements of guilt. ” Levant said, “We don’t even ‘order’ murderers to apologize to their victims’ families because we know that a forced apology is meaningless to them, but not so if their purpose is to degrade Christian pastors and more importantly, the Word of God.

The Future and the Bible

The day is swiftly approaching where mentioning specific sins in the Bible will be seen as a hate crime in America. It is very close right now, so that might be the next step to banning the Bible altogether in the U.S. When or if this will happens, we just don’t know, but there are things in the air that say it may be coming. Already, parts of the Bible have been and are still being removed from the public square because some are “offended by it,” so things like the Ten Commandments have been removed, even in very conservative states such as Oklahoma and Alabama. What is even more tragic is that some ministers, like in the Episcopalian Church, have actually ordained as homosexual ministers, which is contrary to biblical doctrine (Rom 1:18-10, 26-27; 1 Cor 6:9-11).

The Apostle Paul warned of such a day when he wrote that “the time is coming when people will not endure sound teaching, but having itching ears they will accumulate for themselves teachers to suit their own passions” (2 Cor 4:3). Will the Bible ever be banned in America? Perhaps the preaching of it will be someday, and not just from behind the pulpits, but even in the streets. It’s growing more and more difficult to be able to preach the Word of God anywhere because the Word of God afflicts those who reject Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior.

Summary

Several Canadian pastors and street preachers have faced hate-motivated charges or controversy and been arrested, primarily surrounding anti-LGBTQ2+ comments, despite the fact that these comments were verses from the Bible. Key cases involve accusations of inciting hatred, harassment, and public nuisance, rather than being prosecuted solely for Scripture reading which they actually did. From one Saskatchewan court of appeals, the Bible is now considered hate literature in Canada, even if it is quoted verbatim and in context, specifically if it is used to condemn homosexuality. Sadly, there is a double-standard for the Koran as it has not been labeled as having hate speech, even though it contains verses that demand the death of all who reject Allah and fail to be assimilated into the Islamic faith. Just another double standard, showing people hate the truth and will try to ban it, banish it, or make it illegal. That day may be coming sooner than later. Despite all the attacks on the Bible, “The word of the Lord endures forever” (Isaiah 40:8; 1 Pet 1:24-25), and there’s nothing anyone can do about it.

“The word of the Lord endures forever” (Isaiah 40:8).

Conclusion

Here is some related reading for you: How Persecution Purifies the Church and Spreads the Gospel

How Christians Should Respond to Criticism and God Haters

Jack Wellman — Mon, 06 Apr 2026 10:30:34 +0000

We can respond in many different ways to criticism and those who hate God, so how do we respond when we are criticized for our faith?

With Humility and Gentleness

We can respond in many different ways to criticism and those who hate God, so how do we respond when we are criticized for our faith? The best way to respond to criticism is always with humility. It doesn’t matter whether it’s unfair or true criticism. We know that God will resist the proud but He only gives more grace to the humble of heart (James 4:6). When a friend or a co-worker criticizes you, we shouldn’t respond with criticism or retaliate. Why? Because they may actually be doing us a favor by trying to point out something is wrong with our life. Everyone has blind spots in their life, so they may be right. Others may see things in us that are not true, but we don’t fight back with words. Christians are told, “Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who abuse you” (Luke 6:27-28). The best we can do is to thank the person for trying to help us, whether they’re right or wrong. Give them the benefit of the doubt since they could be right. If we react in anger, we may lose a friend or a co-workers input forever and that would be a great loss indeed.

With Thanks

Yes, I said with thanks. It doesn’t matter whether it’s true or not, we should tell them thank you for trying to help us. Paul wrote that “Love believes all things” (1 Cor 13:7), meaning we should give people the benefit of the doubt. Don’t hold a grudge and tell them “Well, that’s your opinion” because why else would they be criticizing you if they didn’t think it would make a difference in your life and help you. Yes, it could be persecution for your faith or maybe they’re just having a bad day, but don’t let it make you have one bad day too.

“I need to work on that.”

Consider the Source

There is a guy that I used to work with who criticized just about everyone that he came into contact with. For the most part, his criticism was unfair and downright wrong, however instead of answering in anger, my reply was to ask him “I appreciate you trying to help but what evidence do you have in saying that?” That caused him to calculate a little bit and come up with his supposed evidence. When people are critical, and believe me there is no shortage of such people, just consider the source. That person may have a bad marriage, went through a divorce, or is battling health issues. Plus, if they are not saved we should pray for them, having compassion for them. Perhaps they’ve heard so much negativity and criticism as a child they think it’s normal to criticize others. Pray for them. Consider their background and don’t let it get you down.

Admit They May Be Right

If you see they are right, admit it, right there on the spot! Say, “Yes, I see what you mean. Thank you for letting me know about this because I had no idea.” Tell them, “I need to work on that.” Remember “Faithful are the wounds of a friend; but the kisses of an enemy are deceitful” (Prov 27:6). I would rather receive wounds to heal than kisses to flatter, and since “iron sharpens iron” (Prov 27:17), and rust never sleeps, admit that they are right and move on…you’ve just grown! Responding to criticism can go well or rather badly. The choice is yours. Accept it with humility, with thanks, consider the source, and admit that they might be right. To respond any other way might just cutoff one of those people who can help you grow or you can share Christ with.

Consider Yourself

Who among us were not “God-haters” before we were saved? I know that only by the grace of God that I am still not a God-hater. The Apostle Paul wants to remind us as he did the church at Corinth that “such were some of you. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God” (1 Cor 6:11). Love those who don’t love God because God loved us first (1 John 4:19), so the first move is on us, but how do you handle someone who hates God and may hate you are a believer? We do exactly what Jesus commands us to do in Matthew 5:44 where He said “Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you,” so we pray for those who hate us, remembering at one time we were His enemy (Rom 5:10).

Doing Good to Haters

Jesus commands believers to, “Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you” (Luke 6:27). Why? Because Jesus says it is “so that you may be sons of your Father who is in heaven. For he makes his sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust” (Matt 5:45). For the world, it’s no big deal “if you love those who love you, what reward do you have? Do not even the tax collectors do the same” (Matt 5:46)? Doing good to others, even when they don’t deserve it, is just what God did for us (Eph 2:8-9). The next time someone attacks you for your faith, ask God to bless them and pray for their soul right then and there. We don’t seek to get revenge or to get even. This alone is God’s job (Rom 12:17). Instead we are told to love them and prayer for them.

Summary

Don’t be like the Pharisees…they were hard on everyone but easy with themselves, when truly, we should be hardest on ourselves and easy on others. Before we respond to those who hate God and may even hate us, remember our own history and that we too once hated God; so pray for those who are your enemies; do good to those who hate you; and ask God to bless them and pray for them that persecute you. That is how we can deal with those who hate God or hate us for our love of God or constantly criticize us. Just remember our own lives and think that “such were some of you” (1 Cor 6:11)!

Conclusion

Here is some related reading for you: What Does the Bible Say About Criticism? A Christian Study

Who Are the “Least of These” Jesus Spoke About

Jack Wellman — Thu, 02 Apr 2026 10:30:53 +0000

In Matthew 25, Jesus talked about the need for us to “do unto the least of these” as doing it unto Christ, so who are the least of these?

Saved by Grace

In Matthew 25, Jesus talked about the need for us to “do unto the least of these” as doing it unto Christ, so who are the least of these? Before we find out who the least of these are, we need a reminder from Scripture about who we are and who we were! First off, we who have trusted in Christ are not better than others…we are just better off. To keep us humble, the Apostle Paul reminds us that, “such were some of you” (1 Cor 6:11) and me! We were not saved because we were special or different from the rest in the world, but solely upon God’s sovereign choice. That means no human can ever boast (Eph 2:8-9).

Who God Chooses

You probably know from experience that God doesn’t choose many of the world’s celebrities or powerful or the rich. Instead, God chooses those who the world seems to look down upon. Paul reminds us that “not many of you were wise according to worldly standards, not many were powerful, not many were of noble birth” (1 Cor 1:26). Instead, “God chose what is foolish in the world to shame the wise; God chose what is weak in the world to shame the strong” (1 Cor 6:27). I am proud to say I am part of that group. God only fixes those who are already broken. God did not choose us because we were wonderful people or a “he’s really great guy” or “lady,” but “God chose what is low and despised in the world, even things that are not, to bring to nothing things that are“ (1 Cor 1:28). So why would God choose the weak and not the strong? It was “so that no human being might boast in the presence of God” (1 Cor 1:29), so that God’s strength alone can be credited with any good we do.

Great White Throne Judgement

When, at the end of the ages, Jesus will come and sit on the Great White Throne, judging those who have fully rejected Him or never known Him. Jesus says of this time that “Before him will be gathered all the nations, and he will separate people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats” (Matt 25:32). The Lord Jesus Christ, “the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world” (Matt 25:34). But what does Jesus recognize when the saints are before Him? The Lord says, “For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me, I was naked and you clothed me, I was sick and you visited me, I was in prison and you came to me” (Matt 25:35-36).

Doing Unto Others

True believers don’t even remember all they had done (Matt 25:38-39), but Jesus reminds them that “as you did it to one of the least of these my brothers, you did it to me” (Matt 25:40b). When we “wash the feet of the saints” (serve them), we are also doing it unto Jesus. That’s because the church is His Body and He is the Head, so what you do to the body, the Head feels. This is just as it is in the human body and why the church is called the Body of Christ; being His earthly hands, feet, eyes, voice and heart. We can love our neighbor as ourselves when we serve the church, and especially the outcasts of this world.

The Least of These

So who are the “least of these my people” Jesus spoke about? Jesus identifies them, saying, “Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these my brothers, you did it to me” (Matt 25:40). The least of these are those who Jesus calls “my brothers.” Wouldn’t that be the church? Aren’t these the saints? To find out whom the least of these, I walked into the bathroom. I looked up and at the mirror. There’s one of them. A brother who is the least of these, just as the Apostle Paul said, he was the “chief of sinners.” That’s me and you too, if you’ve trusted in Christ. We are the children of God (Rom 8:17).

Conclusion

Here is some related reading for you: 20 Amazing Quotes About Serviing

8 Ways to Respond When Under Spiritual Attack

Jack Wellman — Mon, 30 Mar 2026 10:30:41 +0000

H ere are 8 practical ways to respond when you’re under spiritual attack.

Our Daily Bread

One man who was just saved said that prior to his putting his trust in Christ that he was hit with a barrage of spiritual attacks. It was the enemy whispering in his ear; things like, “Who do you think you are!? You’re not a Christian! You’re a fake.” I told him that we need to believe what the Bible says and not what the enemy makes us think. Satan is a liar and so are his demons, but the Word of God is always true, no matter what we think. God’s Word is objective truth. It doesn’t depend on feelings. It is true today and will be true in a billion years, so I told the man to ignore these thoughts and read the Word, and there, you’ll find what is true. Our feelings are very unreliable. The Bible is still true, even if we have the flu.

The enemy hates the promises of God, but he also hates hearing about his fate (Rev 20), or how it all ends for him. Satan also hates us to read about the precious blood of the Lamb of God that was shed for us. The blood sealed our salvation but it sealed his fate. The Devil hates it when you read the Word, so why not irritate him and send him and his demons on their way by reading the words of life, from the Word of God.

Spiritual Armor

If you don’t start your day off with prayer, you are cutting off your most important source, and that is God. If we begin our day without prayer, we’re a lot more vulnerable to the enemy. We shouldn’t step out the door if we haven’t asked for God’s provision and protection, and for our lives to glorify Him. We know that’s God will, so pray when you begin the day. You realize “we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places” (Eph 6:12). We need to cover everything in prayer, and there are no things too small to pray about. All things are small to God, but prayer is a great weapon against spiritual attacks, and of course we need to “take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand firm” (Eph 6:13).

The armor includes the belt of truth, the breastplate of righteousness, the shoes put on the readiness given by the gospel of peace, the shield of faith, the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God (Eph 6:14-17), however, we must be “praying at all times in the Spirit, with all prayer and supplication. To that end, keep alert with all perseverance, making supplication for all the saints” (Eph 6:18). Paul says we must be in prayer whenever we can, so pray as often as you can, for as many people as you can, and for as many things as you can…especially during spiritual attacks.

Fellowship

It’s a special thing being around other Christians. Christian fellowship is so much more than what you have out in the world. Here we are, with the same Father, and the same Savior, so we have much more in common than we might think. The author of Hebrews understood the importance of fellowship when he wrote, “And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near” (Heb 10:24-25). What he is saying is that we will need one another even more as the day of Jesus’ appearance gets closer, and I believe it is. I have no idea when Jesus will return, but I do know He will, and in the meantime, I think we need one another to encourage one another, to pray for one another, and to stir up one another to do good works for God that He has appointed for us to do (Eph 2:10).

Serve

One wise elder of a church told me that 80% of serving is showing up. What he was saying is that if we are faithful enough to serve our church or community, just showing up is more than half the job. Jesus said to those who were faithfully doing good works for Him, “Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these my brothers, you did it to me” (Matt 25:40). There are many opportunities to serve within the body of Christ and within the community you live in (in most cases). It might be collecting food and clothing for the poor to bring to the Salvation Army; it might be being on the communities Welcome Wagon to welcome new residents to the community or to your church; it might be visiting shut-ins, those in nursing homes, those in prison, and those in the hospital. This is what Christ has called His church to do (Matt 25:35-36).

True religion is (James 1:27) a relationship, with the body and with lost people. The reason I bring this up is because if you serve as Christ did, then you will offend the enemy, and the spiritual attacks may ramp up because what you do in love is what they hate! Serve Christ by serving others, and to resist temptations from the Devil, James says, “Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you” (James 4:7).

Steering Clear

For people who are under spiritual attack or frequently experience spiritual attacks, you must avoid obvious satanic things like physic readings, horoscopes, black magic, Ouija games, illegal drugs, hypnosis, and anything to do with the occult such as séances or trying to communicate with the dead. These are clearly forbidden by Scripture and God calls such things an abomination. If we have any doubts as to their source, we need to steer clear. Even mediation can open the door for the enemy to come in. Some of those who are not saved have been possessed by demonic spirits through these activities. They might say we need to keep an open mind, but an open mind is no safer than leaving your door open at night: Just about anything can come in. These things might seem obvious to us, but some believer’s actually try to rationalize their use, but these are obviously sinful, and if you are serious about wanting to avoid spiritual attacks, by all means, avoid these things.

Loving Our Enemies

Jesus’ teachings were as radical on the day that He taught them as they are today. Really! Who do you know that prays for their enemies, does good to those that hurt them, and love those who hate them? That’s not what the world does, in fact, some radical religions seek to kill their enemies, but Jesus expects us to be different from the world. He said, “Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who abuse you” (Luke 6:27-28). Sounds impossible, doesn’t it, and it is without the Spirit of God. Loving those who hate us does not come natural…it is a supernatural work of the Holy Spirit. It is He that empowers us to do what He has commanded. Believe me, it’s something we can’t do this in our own human strength. I’ve tried that and failed miserably, but one thing Satan hates is when we love our enemies and pray for them. He wants us to hate and kill our enemies, and to treat our enemies as “enemies,” but God does not want us to give our enemies what they deserve. He wants us to give them what they need, and that is love. God loved us while we were still ungodly, wicked sinners, and still labeled “enemies of God” (Rom 5:6-10).

Prayers of Thanksgiving

If there is anything that Satan hates more than us reading the Word and loving our enemies, it’s praying to God and giving Him thanks. Has it ever happened to you that when you start to pray, the Enemy will sends a full frontal spiritual attack. When that happens, take out the sword which is the Word of God, and start slicing up the Enemy. They won’t want to stick around and hear when you are praying back to God, the very Word of God. There are many prayers in the Bible, and God loves it when we pray back His Word and His promises to Him. The Enemy hates it! They hate knowing their eternal fate and final state is sealed. Remind Satan and his demons that eventually the demons and the deceiver “who had deceived them was thrown into the lake of fire and sulfur where the beast and the false prophet were, and they will be tormented day and night forever and ever” (Rev 20:10). Martin Luther regularly prayed back the Word of God, so pray and give thanks to God for His many marvelous blessings.

Hang with the Saints

When we are together as the Body of Christ, we are in fellowship with one another, and we are stronger together than we are alone. We need one another. The proof of that is that there are over 100 “one another’s” in the New Testament, indicating that we need to serve one another, love one another, and pray for one another. Satan hates our fellowship because when we fellowship with the saints, we are in turn fellowshipping with God as His children, however, Satan wants the church to be divided over non-essential issues and gossip and in-fight against one another, but that’s all the more reason we need one another, to love one another, and to pray for one another. There is strength in numbers. Besides, we know that Satan is like a roaring lion who is roaming about seeking whom he may devour, so who does he focus on? It’s the stragglers…the ones that are separated from the sheepfold; the ones who are injured and hurting. They are the most vulnerable, so if Satan can get us isolated, he can more easily have his way with us, although he cannot take our life.

Summary

Do you know of any other things that irritate Satan? Things like sharing the gospel, helping the poor, or things like that. I know he hates it when someone is saved. Heaven rejoices over one lost sinner, but hell seethes with anger. Our Enemy hates it when we’re growing in grace and knowledge, when we pray for others, when we read His Word, and when we assemble together to worship God and partake of the Lord’s Supper. I’m not saying we ought to live our lives only to make Satan mad, but we should live our lives so that God is pleased. That’ll have the same result. I know that God is well pleased when we do the things that Jesus commands us to do (Matt 25:35-36). He sees that as doing it unto His own Son (Matt 25:40). Surely the Devil hates that, but if we love our enemies; if we stay in the Word; if we give thanks in our prayers; and if we come to worship the Son of God as the Body of Christ, we can irritate Satan to no end and then, all heaven will break out!

Conclusion

I pray you have put your trust in our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. If that has not happened yet, you are vulnerable to the Enemy my friend, but more importantly, you are in real danger of hell fire. And I mean, in immediate danger. You’re one breath, one heartbeat…one accident away from eternity when it will be too late to repent. Today is the best day to believe (2 Cor 6:2) since tomorrow is no guarantee. If Jesus Christ came today, here is your fate (Matt 7:21-23). This is why I plead with you as you read this, repent today…and I mean right now. Put your trust in Jesus Christ. If you do not, you will face God’s judgment after death guaranteed (Heb 9:27) or at Jesus Christ’s appearance (Rev 20:12-15), which could happen at any moment.

Here is some related reading for you: 7 Signs You Are Dealing With a Spiritual Attack