The Barnabas Strategy (Encouraging men of faith)

Now, we conclude our look at how God equips us to live a courageous life in Christ in a fearful world. Remember, we are not unarmed in the fight against our fears and the related attacks of the enemy. “For this reason I remind you to fan into flame the gift of God, which is in you through the laying on of my hands, for God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control’ (2 Tim 1:6-7, ESV)” Last time we examined fear conquering love; now, we look at the importance of self-control in the context of fear. This is vitally important because fear is a component of almost every negative human experience and a primary method of attack by the enemy.

As we discussed previously, there is a wide range of variation in the human responses to fear. (See Fear Not!-Part 1). The Four Fear Responses: Fight, Flight, Freeze, and Fawn By Amy Marschall, PsyD ). For many people, especially men, the default response is fight (fear based anger expressed in aggression). Therefore, it’s not surprising that the Bible places limits on aggressions like revenge. These limitations promote stable communities while addressing vital spiritual issues like self-control.

In the ancient Hebrew Scriptures, God placed limits on retaliation while codifying self-control: “If anyone injures his neighbor, as he has done it shall be done to him, fracture for fracture, eye for eye, tooth for tooth; whatever injury he has given a person shall be given to him. (Leviticus 24:19-20, ESV). The passage places limits on retaliation which was generally pursued by the kinship redeemer, a male family enforcer of justice (https://www.christianity.com/wiki/bible/importance-and-meaning-of-a-kinsman-redeemer.html). Limiting the human kinship redeemers is part of the process of Yahweh becoming the kinship redeemer for Israel, setting a pattern further developed by the Messiah.

In the Gospels, Jesus expands this notion. We are called to exercise self-control as a spiritual discipline. “You have heard that it was said, ‘An eye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth.’ “But I say to you, do not resist an evil person; but whoever slaps you on your right cheek, turn the other to him also (Matthew 5:38-39). Notice that Jesus doesn’t want us to be vulnerable to sin while facing evil. As a result, Jesus becomes the kinship redeemer for all who follow him. He becomes an insulator between us and the temptation to seek vengeance (sinning in fear based anger). Ironically, our desire to seek justice can cause us to act unjustly. No doubt this is at least in part a diabolical scheme of the enemy.

There are many everyday illustrations of this evil scheme. Some examples are relatively benign. In football, it’s often the second punch that draws the flag. Many a dirty player has specialized in goading the opposition to retaliate to hidden cheap shots. When I was a police officer, we were warned against this phenomenon. Sometimes, the stakes are much higher. A training officer told us not to lie or falsify evidence in our frustrations. We were to avoid the temptation of violating the law in the pursuit of violators because we were “afraid that they would get away with it.” This often takes a great deal of self-control. Notice that this is another case of secular wisdom directly stemming from Judeo-Christian sources.

In the face of fear, we are called to resist both our primal impulses toward violence and demonic temptations. Too often we get out of control because we cannot do this by ourselves. But, we don’t have to. Through Christ, God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control.’ The gift of self-control leads us to let go and let God (1):

God You don’t need me
But somehow You want me
Oh how You love me
Somehow that frees me
To take my hands off of my life
And the way it should go
But somehow You want me
Oh how You love me
Somehow that frees me
To open my hands up
And give You control
I give You control
(Control by Seventh Avenue North)

The Barnabas Strategy is an initiative of the Holy Spirit free of institutional constraints. … Ron Bellomy
———————————

(1) a phrase from 12 step programs

We are looking at how God equips us to live a courageous life in Christ in a fearful world. Remember, we are not unarmed in the fight against our fears and the related attacks of the enemy. “For this reason I remind you to fan into flame the gift of God, which is in you through the laying on of my hands, for God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control’ (2 Tim 1:6-7, ESV)” Last time we examined fear conquering power; now, we look at the unique love of God in the context of fear.

There are three kinds of love in scripture. Eros is romantic love, and philos is familial (brotherly) love. Here, Paul uses the third type which is agape. Agape is “a purely Biblical and ecclesiastical word” which is likely rooted in ancient Greek (Thayer’s Greek Lexicon). Some scholars believe it was coined specifically to describe the early Christian understanding of God’s love. It’s the same type of love Paul references in the famous love anthem in 1 Corinthians 13: Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; it does not rejoice at wrongdoing, but rejoices with the truth. Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things (verses 4-7, ESV).

Well, that’s interesting, but how does agape equip us to deal with fear? I’m so glad you asked. Let’s look at just a few ways this happens:
1. Fears (whether rooted in the realities of living in a lost and broken world or resulting from spiritual attack/trauma) are often correlated with falsehoods. Satan is the “father of lies” (Jn 8:44) and ruler of the world (Luk 4:5-8). He generally induces fear into the world and specifically uses fear based lies as a major weapon against us. Agape predisposes believers to seek (rejoice in) the truth. For me, this means that God’s love motivates us to relentlessly pursue God and God’s love (time with the Word, worship, prayer, etc.). This process builds our faith (the opposite of fear) and displaces the lies of the enemy and this world with “… the way and the truth and the life…” (Jn 14:6) of Jesus Christ.

2. Life is a spiritual battlefield often played out as a war of attrition*. If it’s just us against the worldly powers and principalities, we’re in deep trouble. We may do well for quite a while, but we will eventually become tired, worn and depleted. How can we endure? The simple truth is that we can’t by ourselves. But, we are not in this alone. God’s love is accompanied by God’s power (the healing miracles and the resurrection are prime examples; also see Eph 1:15-23). That’s why Paul writes that love can bear and endure all things (without exception). “What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us?” (Romans 8:31, ESV).

At an extremely low point in my life and in response to a frantic prayer of desperation, I felt the unmistakable presence of God next to me on the steps of a townhouse in Hewitt, Texas. It was divine love that motivated His presence; it was the same love that empowered me to endure when I wanted to quit. The Cross of Christ is an ever present reminder of that fear conquering love.

These are just a few examples of how agape equips us to deal with fear. To help you fear not my brothers, I leave you with the words of the Apostle John. Just as God’s love helps us with fears in everyday life, it also insures that we need not fear the day of judgement:

So we have come to know and to believe the love that God has for us. God is love, and whoever abides in love abides in God, and God abides in him. By this is love perfected with us, so that we may have confidence for the day of judgment, because as he is so also are we in this world. There is no fear in love, but perfect love casts out fear. For fear has to do with punishment, and whoever fears has not been perfected in love. We love because he first loved us (1 Jn4:16-19, ESV).

Next, we will continue Fear Not! by looking at the gift of self-control in the context of living courageous lives in Christ.

The Barnabas Strategy is an initiative of the Holy Spirit free of institutional constraints. … Ron Bellomy

————————————

*A prolonged war or period of conflict during which each side seeks to gradually wear out the other by a series of small-scale actions (for example WWI trench warfare).

Lately, I’ve had a minor case of writer’s block and/or laziness (the topic for a future post). It’s a pitfall of being retired in the Texas summer. It’s simply easier to not write. Thanks to the text from a friend, I am ready to move forward. (SIDE NOTE: never underestimate the importance of simply touching base.)

As a reminder, we are looking at how God equips us to live a courageous life in Christ in a fearful world. “Paul reminds us as he reminded Timothy that we are not unarmed in the fight against our fears and the related attacks of the enemy. ‘For this reason I remind you to fan into flame the gift of God, which is in you through the laying on of my hands, for God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control’ (2 Tim 1:6-7, ESV)” (Fear Not!, Part 1). Now, let’s look at the gift of POWER.

At the basic level, power is simply the ability to get something done… accomplish a task. Great power can be intoxicating, even addicting. (As witnessed by my long term love affair with muscle cars.) The lust for power is a significant reason for the unending corruption/evil in politics, which is dealing with power in groups of people. And as we know, the church isn’t immune to this phenomenon. Conversely, little or no power is also a significant issue which is the aspect of power Paul addresses in the 2 Timothy passage.

Too many Christians suffer from the spiritual disease of powerlessness. Overwhelming personal issues and societal upheaval coupled with the lies of the enemy have convinced many believers that they are victims of circumstances. I call this “Woe is Me Theology.”Sadly, many churches ignore, or worse even feed into, this tragic lie. The results can be devastating because the feeling of powerlessness can lead to hopelessness and despair. It is not to be so with those who call Jesus Lord and Savior.

Paul offers a decidedly different view of power… “the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints, and what is the immeasurable greatness of his power toward us who believe, according to the working of his great might that he worked in Christ when he raised him from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly places, far above all rule and authority and power and dominion…” (excerpt from Eph 1:15-23 ESV). (See also Romans 6:10-11 and 8:11 where Paul clearly states that resurrection power resides in the faithful.)

Therefore, the phrase powerless Christian is a complete contradiction in terms. Through Christ we have access to the power of God… the same power that effortlessly spoke the universe into being… the same power that crushed death in the resurrection… the same power that makes the Sun seem like a depleted AAA battery. My friends, if you feel powerless I suggest you talk to a trusted advisor, pray, attend worship, read the Word. ***

Do whatever it takes to “… fan into flame the gift of God, which is in you through the laying on of my hands, for God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power…” (2 Tim 1:6-7, ESV)

(***link to 100 related passages: https://www.openbible.info/topics/the_same_spirit_that_raise_christ_from_the_dead_is_the_same_spirit_that_will_raise_us_from_the_dead ).

Next, we will continue Fear Not! by looking at the gift of love in the context of living courageous lives in Christ.

The Barnabas Strategy is an initiative of the Holy Spirit free of institutional constraints. … Ron Bellomy

One of the great challenges of life is dealing with the inevitable presence of fear. As part of the divine design, fear is an emotional trigger meant to protect us in dangerous or at least potentially dangerous situations. This process is described by psychologists (for example, The Four Fear Responses: Fight, Flight, Freeze, and Fawn By Amy Marschall, PsyD ). In the spiritual realm, fear can be the danger itself, as the enemy is well aware.

Fear is a profoundly important spiritual issue because fear is the theological opposite of faith. Faith in God is not simply believing that God exists. One of the great biblical ironies is that the demons always seem to know who Jesus is while the religious leaders are often clueless: “As he stepped out on shore, a man from the city who had demons met him... When he saw Jesus, he cried out and fell down before him, shouting, “What have you to do with me, Jesus, Son of the Most High God? I beg you, do not torment me,” for Jesus had commanded the unclean spirit to come out of the man” (Luke 8:27-29, NRSV). The demons believe God exists, but they place no faith in Him.

This begs the question. In biblical terms “What is faith?” A classic definition that is often referenced can be found in the book of Hebrews: “Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen” (11:1, ESV). Clearly, faith goes beyond the physical senses. Instead, it is our commitment to God based on assurance, hope and conviction. Because God (the desired object of our faith) cannot be seen or quantified, even mature believers are sometimes subject to doubt and unbelief. This is a point of vulnerability. Satan, preying on our human frailties, uses fear to chip away at our faith in Christ with the goal of its complete destruction.

When we are fearful, we may start to engage in dangerous speculation like “ Maybe God can’t/won’t do anything about my situation.” There is a related line in an old pop song, Leaving me to doubt talk about God in his mercy; Who if he really does exist, Why did he desert me in my hour of need? (Alone Again, Naturally by Gilbert O’Sullivan). God doesn’t desert or abandon us. Instead, God, who is always present through the Holy Spirit, also equips us with spiritual gifts/weapons; so, we are prepared.

Paul reminds us as he reminded Timothy that we are not unarmed in the fight against our fears and the related attacks of the enemy. “For this reason I remind you to fan into flame the gift of God, which is in you through the laying on of my hands, for God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control” (2 Tim 1:6-7, ESV).

For the next few weeks we will examine power, love and self-control as they relate to living courageous lives in Christ. Until then, FEAR NOT my brothers!

PSALM 91 (ESV)
He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High
will abide in the shadow of the Almighty.
I will say to the LORD, “My refuge and my fortress,
my God, in whom I trust.”
For he will deliver you from the snare of the fowler
and from the deadly pestilence.
He will cover you with his pinions,
and under his wings you will find refuge;
his faithfulness is a shield and buckler.
You will not fear the terror of the night,
nor the arrow that flies by day,
nor the pestilence that stalks in darkness,
nor the destruction that wastes at noonday.
A thousand may fall at your side,
ten thousand at your right hand,
but it will not come near you.
You will only look with your eyes
and see the recompense of the wicked.
Because you have made the LORD your dwelling place—
the Most High, who is my refuge—
no evil shall be allowed to befall you,
no plague come near your tent.
For he will command his angels concerning you
to guard you in all your ways.
On their hands they will bear you up,
lest you strike your foot against a stone.
You will tread on the lion and the adder;
the young lion and the serpent you will trample underfoot.
“Because he holds fast to me in love, I will deliver him;
I will protect him, because he knows my name. When he calls to me, I will answer him;
I will be with him in trouble;
I will rescue him and honor him.
With long life I will satisfy him
and show him my salvation.”

The Barnabas Strategy is an initiative of the Holy Spirit free of institutional constraints. … Ron Bellomy

(Royalty free image from Dreamstime)

When I did casework, a young woman with the IQ of a six year old told my boss, “Life is hard to live.” The wisdom of that statement proves that you don’t need a great intellect or formal education to understand the often difficult nature of life. In Genesis after the Fall, God makes it clear that we’re no longer living in paradise: “… cursed is the ground because of you (the result of sin and rebellion) in pain you shall eat of it all the days of your life; thorns and thistles it shall bring forth for you; and you shall eat the plants of the field. By the sweat of your face you shall eat bread, till you return to the ground… ” (Gen 3:17-19). In addition to these inherent difficulties, Satan is still slithering into our lives with temptations.

We close our series by examining the final petition of the Lord’s Prayer, “And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil” (Mat 6:13). We need to understand that God does not tempt us. James 1:13-14 makes this clear, “Let no one say when he is tempted, ‘I am being tempted by God,’ for God cannot be tempted with evil, and he himself tempts no one. But each person is tempted when he is lured and enticed by his own desire.” In other words, we shouldn’t blame God for our own sinful nature. In many situations, we simply look in the mirror to find the culprit.

Beyond self-inflicted seductions, God will allow us to endure temptations on occasion. Temptation in biblical terms is often experienced as trials (see Job 1:6-12). Trials may simply result from living in a broken world. We never know what others are going through. Recently, we discovered that a professional who wasn’t doing her job well had her father in the hospital, her mother seriously ill, and a daughter having a baby. Trials also result from spiritual attacks. It is widely understood that the deliverance sought is not from a faceless, generic evil. “The last petition in the Lord’s Prayer is a petition for deliverance from Satan. ‘Deliver us from the evil one’ (Matthew 6:13) is the correct translation” (Derek Prince, Secrets of a Prayer Warrior, p. 46).

Regardless of the source or type of temptation, it may help to remember two things: 1. We cannot face temptations alone; so we pray… lead us not into temptation, acknowledging our dependence on God. This is a plea for strength and guidance from our Father in heaven; 2. The Father who hears our prayers loves us more than we love ourselves. See what kind of love the Father has given to us, that we should be called children of God; and so we are… (1John 3:1a).

Therefore brothers and sisters, let us close as we opened this great prayer, in praise: For yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory, forever. Amen (included in some ancient manuscripts)

The Barnabas Strategy is an initiative of the Holy Spirit free of institutional constraints. … Ron Bellomy

(NOTE: The image of Archangel Michael defeating Satan is royalty free from Dreamtime.com.)

We live in a broken world with broken people who continually mess up, to put it lightly. I should know. I’m one of them. One of the great challenges and true blessings of the Christian faith is having a merciful way to deal with all that brokenness…

It’s time to discuss a critical aspect or the Lord’s Prayer (and life in general), forgiveness. Forgiveness is a very personal issue with many disturbing questions: Why should I forgive someone who has clearly harmed me? How can I truly forgive others if I can’t forgive myself? How can God forgive me with what I have done? We must sort through all this for the sake of our hearts and souls since receiving forgiveness is directly linked to offering the same to others— and forgive us our debts (trespasses), as we also have forgiven our debtors (trespassers) (Mat 6:12).

Like love, forgiveness begins within believers to build redemptive communities. When Jesus was asked about the greatest commandment, he replied,  …“You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. ³⁸ This is the great and first commandment. ³⁹ And a second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself. ⁴⁰ On these two commandments depend all the Law and the Prophets” (Mat 22:37-40, ESV, emphasis mine). Similarly, forgiving our neighbor is tied to forgiving ourselves.

I was raised in a guilt-based environment at home and in church. The only sermon I remember from childhood was a tour of hell. Years later in seminary, we were to read and respond to an historic sermon by Jonathan Edwards, Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God. I wrote that this was a typical sermon in my childhood experience of church… no big deal. But, it was a big deal. I was so defeated and beaten down in my youth that I didn’t believe I could be forgiven, much less forgive myself or others. Overcoming this guilt-based, judgment generating lie has been a lifelong struggle. Now, I believe I am the forgiven son of a merciful loving Father, and that the divine forgiveness I receive must be passed on to my neighbor. It is an important part of the law of love which keeps my heart from hardening.

Love holds no grudge.

True forgiveness is not mouthing empty words. It flows out of a loving heart. Part of loving your neighbor as yourself is forgiving your neighbor as yourself (see dependence referenced in Mat 22:40). This is a safeguard against the injuries and pain of a broken world hardening our hearts. Hardened hearts cause some people to reject God along with the divine offers of forgiveness and salvation. It’s like slamming a door in God’s face. And, hardened hearts largely contribute to our cruel and broken world. Therefore, true forgiveness based in love is critical and irreplaceable, especially in communities of faith. Even if we can’t manage to find the love in our hearts to forgive our neighbors in the moment, we can use our love for God as the basis for the beginning of forgiveness. The prayer may look like this:

“Father, right now I can’t find the love in my heart for my neighbor necessary for true forgiveness. But, I forgive them as I am able out of my love for you. Help me to love and forgive them as you have loved and forgiven me; so, I can be faithful to Jesus’ teaching on prayer, “and forgive us our debts (trespasses), as we also have forgiven our debtors (trespassers)”” (Mat 6:12). Amen.

He will again have compassion on us; he will tread our iniquities underfoot. You will cast all our sins into the depths of the sea (Mic 7:19, ESV).

The Barnabas Strategy is an initiative of the Holy Spirit free of institutional constraints. … Ron Bellomy

Now, our focus shifts from aligning with what God wants in the opening petitions to addressing our human needs by seeking God’s provision — Give us this day our daily bread (Mat 6:11).

The issue of God’s provision has been interpreted with extreme variations. Some focus on human effort with a divine assist; “God helps those who help themselves .” “Many have attributed its origin to Benjamin Franklin but the roots of this idea go all the way back to ancient Greece…” It was introduced in 17th c. England by a politician, Algernon Sydney (https://www.christianity.com/wiki/christian-life/why-god-helps-those-who-help-themselves-is-presumed-to-be-biblical.html). Unfortunately this perspective can create problems with pride and reluctance to embrace our dependence on God. Another extreme variation on provision finds expression in the prosperity gospel. I have an admitted bias opposing this focus. In this extreme, the divine/human relationship is about receiving material blessings (aka, the Cash Register God). A quick internet search for prosperity preachers produces Robert Tilton, T. L. Osborn, Joel Osteen, Creflo Dollar, Kenneth Copeland, etc.

The daily bread petition in the Lord’s Prayer presents a different perspective on God’s provision—Give us this day our daily bread. Here are some observations to consider:

Give us—These opening words place the petition in an intimate community (first person plural pronoun) that acknowledges its dependence on God. Previously, the Lord’s Prayer opened with praise and seeking God’s will, setting the context for pursuing divine provision. With confidence, we respectfully ask God to provide for our community (family, church, etc.) because God has always provided for believers (see manna in Exodus 16). From the time of Abraham until today, there is an unending witness to God’s provision. So much so, that this characteristic is revealed in one of the biblical names for God; Jehovah Jireh which means “the Lord will provide.” As a young husband and father, I took a 65% pay cut to go to seminary and enter the ministry. Every time I thought our little family community wasn’t going to survive financially, Jehovah Jireh provided. Our story isn’t unique, but is consistent with thousands of years of testimonies because manna is a sign of God’s hesed (see The Lord’s Prayer (Part 1)).

this day—We need God’s provision every day. This doesn’t mean that we shouldn’t take reasonable measures to prepare for future needs, especially in these uncertain times. However, our security cannot ultimately come from temporary material things, no matter how much we have. It’s a matter of keeping our spiritual focus where it belongs. “Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal, but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also” (Mat 6:19-21). In other words, our daily acknowledgment of God’s provision helps to keep our focus on heaven.

our daily bread—The commentators have long agreed that we are not just talking about our daily bread (food). “Indeed, many of the primitive fathers understood it as comprehending that daily supply of grace which the soul requires…” (Matthew Henry’s Commentary). But it’s important to remember that this is a reference to our needs, not our greeds. The soul doesn’t require yachts, exotic cars, or mansions. In fact, riches are often spiritual stumbling blocks (see Luke 18:25). What the human soul requires is continual contact with the Holy Spirit. There is no effective substitute for a daily supply of grace!

(TO BE CONTINUED with forgiveness — and forgive us our debts (trespasses), as we also have forgiven our debtors (trespassers).

The Barnabas Strategy is an initiative of the Holy Spirit free of institutional constraints. … Ron Bellomy

After a longer than expected Easter break, it’s good to be back with you. Last time we focused on opening prayer with praise by hallowing God’s name. It has been said that more of our prayer time should be spent in praise. To borrow a line from MercyMe: But still we praise our Savior in Spirit and in Truth
For we cannot say enough about You.

Next, we look at the opening petitions in the Lord’s Prayer: Your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven (Mat 6:10). Here are some observations to consider:

Many of us in western culture have an aversion to the idea of kingdoms. The U. S. was established in opposition to this structure. However, history teaches us that the structure of the government cannot overcome unworthy/corrupt leaders regardless of their titles (king, queen, president or prime minister). Evil can find a way to corrupt any system. Jesus teaches us to pray for the Kingdom to come led by the only truly worthy King, who is incorruptible.

Praying for God’s Kingdom to come on earth is praying for God’s will to be done. It is aligning our prayers, our very spirits with divine intentions. (It’s important to note that these petitions focus us first on what God wants, not what we want.) Mark shows God’s intention with Jesus’ ministry by starting with the announcement of the Kingdom: “Now after John was arrested, Jesus came into Galilee, proclaiming the gospel of God, and saying, “The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand; repent and believe in the gospel.” (Mar 1:14-15).
Remember, gospel means good news. The Kingdom coming is God in Christ’s good news for everyone if we will accept it (repent and believe). Clearly, this is God’s will.

The Kingdom of God is initially internal, then becomes external. It is the liberation of humanity from the clutches and tyranny of the self. Prior to our conversions we are living imprisoned to the self with illusions of freedom. Jesus offers a prison shaking, life changing citizenship in the Kingdom. This new citizenship causes the will of God, the good news, to be shared with the world by Christian disciples (Kingdom citizens). In other words, this citizenship comes with a commission: “Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age” (Mat 28:19-20).

(TO BE CONTINUED with seeking God’s provision — Give us this day our daily bread.)

The Barnabas Strategy is an initiative of the Holy Spirit free of institutional constraints. … Ron Bellomy

Having just experienced the glory of Easter, it seems more than appropriate to look at praise in the context of the Lord’s Prayer.

The importance of praise cannot be overstated. Derek Prince (Secrets of a Prayer Warrior, p. 139) writes about a confrontation between Jesus and the religious leaders:

“Have you never read, ‘Out of the mouth of babes and nursing infants You have perfected praise’?”(Matthew 21:16). David wrote the words ordained strength. Jesus interpreted them as perfected praise. What does that tell us? That the ordained strength of God’s people is perfect praise. When you praise the name of the Lord perfectly, you shut the devil up.

Therefore, it isn’t surprising that, in the Lord’s Prayer, we find praise immediately following the relational greeting. We are simultaneously honoring God and silencing the enemy.

–hallowed be your name: To “hallow” is to honor as holy (an aspect of praise). In other words, to hallow is to set apart something as worthy of reverence and respect. The object of this reverence is the name of God, and names are very important in the biblical context. Names are not just identifiers but are related to power and sometimes life changing events (Jesus changes Simon’s name to Peter after his confession-see Mat 16:13-20).

Here, we are talking about the name that is unparalleled in power and importance; the name some consider “too holy to pronounce.” For us to truly hallow the name of God is to acknowledge the life changing experience initiated in our conversions and symbolized in our baptisms. To earnestly pray the phrase, hallowed be your name, is an acknowledgment of the unique nature of the One we have addressed. It is also claiming a spiritual weapon. Appropriately invoking a name of the Trinity with reverence is wielding a mighty weapon against evil and darkness. It is one of the ways we let our lights shine (see Mat 5:16).

Brothers, let your lights shine, honor God and shut up the devil. Hallow the name of God in all you say and do.

(TO BE CONTINUED with God’s purpose— “Your kingdom come,
your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.”)

The Barnabas Strategy is an initiative of the Holy Spirit free of institutional constraints. … Ron Bellomy

I have noticed that the day before Easter (Saturday in Holy Week) can be tough, even symbolic of our struggles as believers. This side of Easter has always been a hard place to be. The disciples fled when Jesus was arrested (see Mat 26:56) and went into hiding. The crucified Jesus is dead and placed in a tomb. On this side of Easter all hope seems lost.

Brothers, don’t get trapped on this side of Easter! There will be times when life punches us in the gut, and we forget who we are and where we live. That is understandable. However, it is not acceptable to stay on this side of Easter where evil prematurely celebrates and chaos seems to reign; this is the deception and the lie. Remember:

Sing praises to the LORD, O you his saints,
and give thanks to his holy name.
For his anger is but for a moment,
and his favor is for a lifetime.
Weeping may tarry for the night,
but joy comes with the morning. (Psa 30:4-5)

Whatever struggles you face, push through… persevere… Never loose sight of the other side of Easter! Do you not know? Have you not heard? The joy and hope of Easter comes in the morning. As the sons of God, the other side of Easter holds our inheritance. On the other side of Easter, the Cross and the tomb are empty, and Jesus reigns forever:

There’s a day that’s drawing near
When this darkness breaks to light
And the shadows disappear
And my faith shall be my eyes

Jesus has overcome
And the grave is overwhelmed
The victory is won
He is risen from the dead

[Chorus:]
And I will rise when He calls my name
No more sorrow, no more pain
I will rise on eagles’ wings
Before my God fall on my knees
And rise
I will rise. (I Will Rise, Chris Tomlin)

The Barnabas Strategy is an initiative of the Holy Spirit free of institutional constraints. … Ron Bellomy