“Out of Order” signs are so frustrating, no matter how pretty they look. It’s a simple way of saying, “You had some reasonable expectations and have made a good choice in coming here. But because things break and/or people aren’t responsible, your life is being significantly inconvenienced. Better luck next time.”
It seems God has hung an “Out of Order” sign on the doors I thought I was supposed to move through. Now I’m frustrated, annoyed, confused, and inconvenienced.
Every morning I wake up and am slammed with the consequences of decisions that have put up “out of order signs.” Here is a thumbnail of what I wake up thinking about:
The church I started 5 years ago has closed and my soul aches because of it
I’m trying to sell my house in a down market
I’m working towards relocating my family from the Midwest (Indiana) to the Northwest (Oregon)
I’m re-evaluating my entire call to ministry
I’m preparing for a major vocation change
Thankfully, I’m finding the Bible refreshing in all of this. Surprisingly so.
Let me paraphrase something Peter wrote:
For if you possess these qualities (faith, goodness, knowledge, self-control, perseverance, godliness, brotherly kindness, and love) in increasing measure, they will keep you from being ineffective and unproductive in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. – 2 Peter 1:8
Ineffective & Unproductive…I’ve never felt more ineffective or unproductive in my entire life.
And that’s the my problem, right? I’ve been stripped of all the ways I’ve been measuring effectiveness and productivity. All I’m left with is how well I’m pursuing intimacy with Christ. That door is wide open and I’ve received an invitation to walk through it.
But is that enough? Theologically, I would say it is. Practically, I’m not sure my life has born that out. You?
I hadn’t heard of the movie Paranormal Activity until Scott asked if I wanted to go see it with him. I was free, so I went. Man, am I glad I did.
What I loved about the movie was a genuine treatment of demonic activity, and the ignorance that goes along with it. How would you handle a demon if it were haunting you?
I won’t go into the details of the movie (you can read a decent review via Plugged-in), what I will comment on is how the movie portrays “levels of demonization.” Most of us have heard about being “demon possessed,” you know, the kind of thing you see in the Exorcist. In fact, the Bible (specifically the New Testament) uses the phrase “demon possessed” 11 times. It comes from the Greek “daimonizomai.”
However, a literal understanding of daimonizomai, is “to be demonized.” That is, being acted upon by a demonic spirit(s) who is wrestling you away from God’s best. I believe we all experience demonic activity to some level. But do we recognize it? Do we really believe this could happen to us?
For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.
- Ephesians 6: 12 -
Levels of Demonization The best way I know how to think about demonization is on a spectrum. On one end of the scale demonic activity is like a pesky fly that you want to swat away. On the other end is full bondage, the demon has control of the body. And, of course, stuff in between. Here is a brief description for each notable “stage” on the spectrum.
Harassment – the effort to get me off of my appointed task. The result is apathy towards God’s work vs. passion
Oppression – a fog that limits your perspective and clouds your vision. The result is discouragement vs. courage to move in God’s will.
Affliction – a physical malady that can bring physical pain. The result is despair about the future vs. hope.
Bondage – a power that paralyzes us from the freedom Christ intends. The result is surrender to the enemy vs. surrender to Christ.
In October 2008, I preached on this topic, and I have re-posted those sermons here. Below are their titles, with a brief description and a link to each of the posts.
The Others (Part 2): The Great War
Who are the players in this epic war of good vs. evil? What is the driving motive of the enemy, and what is God’s response?
The Others (Part 3): Mimic
So far we’ve considered the need to understand reality by not only the physical lens, but also through the spiritual lens. We’ve looked at who the “players” are in this epic battle, and what is driving the efforts of the enemy. Here is the question I want us to wrestle with this morning, “As we move through life, aware of these forces, how do I know what to do in moments of significant decision? How do we discern the works of the enemy & the work of God? Where do we turn for counsel, advise, and wisdom?
The Others (Part 4): Freedom
All of experience demonization at some level. The question is, how do we identify it, what do we do about it both in the moment and long term?
Teaching Synopsis
All of experience demonization at some level. The question is, how do we identify it, what do we do about it both in the moment and long term?
Series: The Others
Title: Freedom
Text: Ephesians 6:10-13 Date: October 26, 2008 Location: Pathway Church
Teaching Synopsis
All of experience demonization at some level. The question is, how do we identify it, what do we do about it both in the moment and long term?
Demonization is being acted upon by demonic spirits who are wrestling to blind you from the work that God wants to do.
Levels of Demonization
Level 1: Harrasment – the effort to get me off of my appointed task. (Apathy vs. Passion)
Level 2: Oppression – a fog that limits your perspective and clouds your vision (discouragement vs. Courage)
Level 3: Affliction – a physical mality that can bring physical pain (despair vs. hope)
Level 4: Bondage – a power that paralyzes from the freedom Christ intends (surrender vs. surrender)
Ways we open ourselves to Demonization
Belief of the Lies
Garbage in my life
Unrepentant Sin
Embrace the freedom God has for you by changing my
Head – embracing the truth
Heart – seeking counseling
Hands – altering your lifestyle
The Others Sermon Series
I preached this sermon back in October 2008. This four part series considers the role of “spiritual forces” in our lives. What should our response be to witches, wizards, demons, and ghosts? Are these things for real? Is there really a devil? What does it mean to be “demon possessed?” In this series we investigate what the Bible says about these forces and how we are to respond to them as Jesus followers.
Teaching Synopsis
So far we’ve considered the need to understand reality by not only the physical lens, but also through the spiritual lens. We’ve looked at who the “players” are in this epic battle, and what is driving the efforts of the enemy. Here is the question I want us to wrestle with this morning, “As we move through life, aware of these forces, how do I know what to do in moments of significant decision? How do we discern the works of the enemy & the work of God? Where do we turn for counsel, advise, and wisdom?
1. Sorcery vs. God’s Power (2 Timothy 1:7)
2. Witchcrat vs. God’s Voice (Hebrews 4:7)
3. Fortune-Telling vs. God’s Leadership (Ps. 143:10)
Series: The Others
Title: Mimic
Text: 2 Corinthians 11:14 & Deuteronomy 18:9-13 Date: October 19, 2008 Location: Pathway Church
The Others Sermon Series
I preached this sermon back in October 2008. This four part series considers the role of “spiritual forces” in our lives. What should our response be to witches, wizards, demons, and ghosts? Are these things for real? Is there really a devil? What does it mean to be “demon possessed?” In this series we investigate what the Bible says about these forces and how we are to respond to them as Jesus followers.
Series: The Others
Title: The Great War
Text: Revelation 12:1-9 Date: October 12, 2008 Location: Pathway Church
Teaching Synopsis
Who are the players in this epic war of good vs. evil? What is the driving motive of the enemy, and what is God’s response?
The Players – Rev. 12:1-9
The Motive – Isaiah 14:12-14
The Work of Christ – 1 John 3:8
The Lies of Satan – Job 1:9-11
The Words of Christ – Rom. 8:34-37
The Others Sermon Series
I preached this sermon back in October 2008. This four part series considers the role of “spiritual forces” in our lives. What should our response be to witches, wizards, demons, and ghosts? Are these things for real? Is there really a devil? What does it mean to be “demon possessed?” In this series we investigate what the Bible says about these forces and how we are to respond to them as Jesus followers.
The Others Sermon Series
I preached this sermon back in October 2008. This four part series considers the role of “spiritual forces” in our lives. What should our response be to witches, wizards, demons, and ghosts? Are these things for real? Is there really a devil? What does it mean to be “demon possessed?” In this series we investigate what the Bible says about these forces and how we are to respond to them as Jesus followers.
Teaching Synopsis
We kick off our new series by looking at how we determine reality and the impact that can have on our relationship with God.
Series: The Others
Title: Eyes to See, Ears to Hear
Text: Mark 8:14-21 Date: October 5, 2008 Location: Pathway Church
Teaching Synopsis
We kick off our new series by looking at how we determine reality and the impact that can have on our relationship with God. There are two ways in which we measure reality:
The Physical World is understood by Science
The Spiritual World is understood by Religion
In this teaching we looked at three examples that illustrate the collision of these two ways of understanding:
Example 1: Physical Health & Illness (Luke 13:10-12)
Example 2: Personal Economy & Finances (Matthew 17:27)
My daughter danced and my heart was sweetly satisfied. I was proud when she twirled, when she took direction, when she danced with others. I was grieved when she became self conscious, aware that she wasn’t doing it “right.” I just wanted her to dance, to move to the music, to forget her inhibitions and express herself.
I think that’s what God wants me to do. Dance.
Dance to the beat of His blessings, promises, love. Dance without consideration for what people will think and say. Dance because its fun, and it takes me back to a place of innocence. Less cerebral and more relational.
Let them praise His name with dancing
and make music to Him with tambourine and harp.
For the Lord takes delight in His people;
He crowns the humble with salvation.
- Psalm 149:3-4 (NIV)
Here’s the problem, I’ve forgotten how to dance. I’ve forgotten because I’ve become self conscious, concerned about what people will think and say. Worst yet, I’ve become a critic of people who dance, who express themselves freely to God.
If I were to dance, I would want to do it “right.” You know, as if it were a competition or something. I would be dancing to “win” or be recognized. And there it is…pride. It is pride that has kept me off of the dance floor. Pride that has kept me from moving to my Father’s music.
I’m entering a new season where I can re-set how I think and how I process God’s leading in my life. For me, some of that means moving onto the dance floor and not caring what people think. It means laying aside my pride, and not concerned with other people’s expectations.
“Stranger danger.” Remember hearing that as a kid. We were taught that strangers are scary, to be avoided, to be held at arms length, tested before trusted. Maybe that’s why I struggle with Peter’s words “live your lives as strangers here in reverent fear” (1 Peter 1:17). Ugh. It’s one thing to be the stranger, it’s something else to live as the stranger.
Strangers don’t fit in. I like to fit in. In fact, the results of the Myers-Briggs personality test says that I will “exude more confidence than my experience warrants.” A lot of that comes from not wanting to be seen as the stranger.
Peter challenges us to be strange-rs. Not because of what we abstain from or are disciplined towards. “Now that you have purified yourselves by obeying the truth so that you have sincere love for your brothers, love one another deeply from the heart” (I Peter 1:22). This is strange. Doing this will make you the strange-r because, chances are, most people haven’t experienced this level of deep love. When this love is experienced, it breaks down the social rules we carefully craft to keep ourselves safe. All of a sudden the strange-r is safe. Safer than what we thought was possible. Perhaps even safer than people we know.
If Bethany sent me out to buy sugar, I would buy the cheapest sugar I could find. Why? Because it’s just sugar. It doesn’t need to be expensive, packaged fancy, or organic. It just needs to be sugar. Sugar we can bake with, sweeten some tea with, and put in my coffee. Sugar makes things taste good, that’s why I want the most I can get, with the least I can spend. That’s my philosophy on sugar.
That’s a lot of people’s philosophy on church. The mantra goes, “What’s the most church I can get, and what is the least I have to give.” After all, church is something that is supposed to “sweeten” life. It makes life palatable. It’s supposed to “taste good.” Right?
For the last month my family has been visiting churches. For the next 6 months we will be looking for a church to call home. I have a lot of friends who are in the same hunt right now. It’s been easy to walk into a church with my pinky finger poised, lightly moistened, and ask for a sample. Is it sweet enough? What does it cost me?
But what about a church’s theology? What about how they are doing for the poor and marginalized? What about the pastor? Sure he might be a dynamic speaker, but is he a good husband, father, friend? How is the children’s ministry structured? Is the church going to challenge me to lead my kids to God, or are they going to do it for me?
Unfortunately, many churches play into this nonsense. They promote themselves as a “sweeter” alternative to other churches. And it’s easy to begin playing that game.
I’ve never met a Pastor or Elder that wants to promote this mentality or culture. They really want to build a community that is less about the “sweetness” and more about the life change God wants to bring about. But being “sweet” puts butts in seats on Sunday. And butts in seats means things can happen, momentum can be gained, lives are gathered for the opportunity to hear the Gospel.
Help me. What are the questions we need to be asking as we look for a church? What are the questions you are asking and/or have asked?
I’ve got a masters degree in Leadership & Spiritual Formation.
The church I started just closed.
I’m stepping away from vocational ministry.
This wasn’t supposed to happen.
When I was 11 years old I felt God strongly impress on me that I was to be a preacher. And I’ve lived moving towards and fulfilling that “call” for the last 22 years. Now, I’m wondering if God has a different course for me.
In seminary we were told that only 10% of us would retire from vocational ministry. When I heard that I pounded the table in disgust and knew it would never be me.
It could be me…right now, I’m on the road to being that guy.
I’ve lived with the arrogant attitude that I cold predict my life and where God was leading me. Now, I’m completely broken by the thought that I have no idea what I will be doing 3 months from now. God is showing me that my strengths have become my liabilities. I trust them instead of Him.
What God is doing in me is good…but good is often hard.
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“Out of Order” signs are so frustrating, no matter how pretty they look. It’s a simple way of saying, “You had some reasonable expectations and have made a good choice in coming here. But because things break and/or people aren’t responsible, your life is being significantly inconvenienced. Better luck next time.”
