Tag Archives: devil

Vanishing Point

Posted on June 25, 2014 by expressyourself4him

In a world fueled by controversy, negativity and pessimism, its easy to lose sight of the positive.  Affirmations, encouragement and uplifting words often vanish from memories, erased by daily criticism that wound hearts.  This isn’t the only thing to recede, disappearing like the tide going out to sea.

Despite this harsh reality, there is one truth that never vanishes.  According to Psalm 139:13-16, you were knit together in your mother’s womb.  In fact, Jesus takes this one step further, reminding Nicodemus of God’s perfect plan.  According to John 3:16, the expression “so loved” in the Greek refers to from vanishing point to vanishing point.  In other words, before you were born and until your death, God’s love extends throughout time.

When idividuals become aware of this aspect of God’s nature, revival can begin.  Unfortunately, an invisible enemy has blinded the minds of unbelievers, 2 Corinthians 4:4.  All the while, believers are under a difficult kind of attack, pulled in different directions by the world, Galatians 5:16-18.  If this wasn’t enough, the devil is busy stealing, killing and destroying souls.  As the sun sets on another day, don’t allow your thoughts to forget the promises within God’s word, Joshua 1:8, from vanishing point to vanishing point.

by Jay Mankus

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God’s Aha Moment

Posted on June 5, 2014 by expressyourself4him

Beyond the scene of a crime, evil deeds do not go overlooked by God.  Although initially someone may believe they have out tricked authorities.  In the end, the Lord will turn the tables on acts of the sinful nature, Galatians 5:19-21.

According to Psalm 70:2-3, King David reveals a side of God few see or experience.  Despite being out numbered, the Lord has the power to outwit, outlast and foil the attacks of enemies.  The apostle Paul reinforces this belief through the words of Romans 8:38-39.

While the world relies on plotting, scheming and revenge to gain control, an invisible force is on the move.  Like a 15 round heavy weight fight, Galatians 5:16-18, angels and demons duel to influence the souls of mankind.  Just as the devil appears to have been victorious, Jesus rose from the grave to conquer sin and death, Colossians 2:13-15.  In a comeback for the ages, God’s Aha moment has changed the course of history forever, John 3:16-17.  May this triumph uplift your soul, empowering you to run with perseverance despite the challenges you face in life, Hebrews 12:1-3.

by Jay Mankus

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Stop Pouting and Start Leading

Posted on March 1, 2014 by expressyourself4him

When someone is hurt, ill or sad, its easy to become distracted, absorbed by the painful reality of life.  One of the common reactions is to pout, a visible form of depression by expressing disappointment through your body language.  This pitiful state blinds individuals from those who need you the most, often resulting in isolation and withdraw.  Once you reach this point, its hard to snap out of this mindset.

Since my tubing accident, I guess you can say I lost or wasted the entire month of February.  I feel like I have been bewitched by the sorrow of my circumstances, similar to the church of Galatia who lost sight of faith, Galatians 3:1-5.  In my mental absence, my wife has tried to hold our family together as best as she could.  However, now its time for me to stop pouting and start leading.

“Compromise is the language of the devil,” according to one of Eric Liddell’s mentors in Chariot’s of Fire.  As a parent, if you allow your children to wear you down, compromise will become a way of life.  As my eyes have awoken from my spiritual slumber, its essential for me to lead my kids toward the less traveled road, Matthew 7:13-14.  However, words are meaningless unless I display the way.  Therefore, I need to experience a Chrysalis like the butterfly, 2 Corinthians 5:17, who enters as an inch worm and exits transformed on wings like eagles, Isaiah 40:31.  If people stop pouting and start leading, this generation can be saved one life at a time.

by Jay Mankus

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How Bad Do You Really Want It?

Posted on February 17, 2014 by expressyourself4him

If I had to take an honest assessment of my goals in life  and compare this with how I actually spend my time, my actions display a lack of hunger to make my American Dream a reality.  While playing on a  Florida mini-tour in 1995, I met several individuals who were willing to risk everything, sacrificing food, shelter and wants to one day make the P.G.A. Tour.  Clearly, they wanted it more than me as some ate peanut butter and jelly 3 times a day, 7 days a week, a few lived in their cars and many more worked the night shift so they could play in golf tournaments during the day.  In essence, I’m the only one to blame for not fulfilling this desire of my heart.

Cover Photo

Nearly 20 years later, I not willing to let another dream slip through my hands.  Back in the late 90’s, I had a 45 minute phone conversation with Max Lucado’s editor, set up by a mutual friend who owned a Christian Bookstore.  At the time, I was a freelance writer trying to break through, asking as many questions as possible without being rude.  Two of his statements serve as a glimmer of hope for this amateur author: “If you want to get noticed, the average professional writes full time for 7 years before getting paid or if you can only afford to do this part time, you must be willing to invest 15 years of your life.”  Over the past 3 years, I am in the process of paying my dues, with over 700 daily articles, 1 complete 90 minute movie script and currently a third of the way through my first book called Behind the Devil’s Door.  Though I could probably devote more time to writing each week, this time around the block I want it more than ever.

In Psalm 27:4, King David asks a similar question, but from a spiritual perspective: “How badly do you want to spend time with God?”  Are you happy with your current relationship or are holding back, not ready to commit fully to the Lord?  Based upon verses 1-3, if you are afraid, faithless or weak, you’re likely missing essential pieces.  What’s holding you back, keeping you from experiencing the presence of the Holy Spirit daily?  Perhaps you don’t want God as bad as He longs to be with you, Luke 15:20.  May the words of Matthew 6:33-34 provide the assurance you need to re-prioritize your life as soon as possible.  While every human feels the pain of unfulfilled dreams, I pray that gazing upon the beauty of the Lord will transform your perspective on life.  Your actions in the days that follow will answer the question, how bad do you really want it?

by Jay Mankus

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Check Mate

Posted on July 9, 2013 by expressyourself4him

I always was more of a checkers kind of guy, but chess was something I attempted on my computer.  As a novice and mere amateur, I often made illegal moves, getting beeped at by the game, reset to my initial position.  Losing most of the times, I approved to the point of being respectable.  However, from a coaching perspective, I have embraced the chess like concept of putting your pieces, (players) in the right position to win or force an opponent to say, “check mate.”

Psalm 149:4 unlocks a secret to success in life.   According to the Psalmist, God delights in his people.  In fact, the Lord crowns those who are humble with salvation.  Instead of boasting or trash talking in the middle of a contest, God wants individuals to just play the game of life, whether you win or lose.  While the devil may back you into a corner or take out several of your pawns, God has the final move.  Just when Lucifer thought he was about to taste victory, Jesus rose from the grave, Colossians 2:13-15, pronouncing “Check Mate” on his former angel.

Beyond this world lies a spiritual dimension where angels and demons perform a battle for eternity.  Prayer fuels angelic beings while idleness empowers satanic strongholds.  This chess match will continue until Jesus returns, Matthew 24:42-44 or you breathe your last breath.  Despite how bad your board looks, fight until the very end, 1 Timothy 6:12.  Place your trust in the promise of Psalm 149:4, crowned by the Lord with eternal life.

by Jay Mankus

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Offense

Posted on March 10, 2013 by expressyourself4him

As the seasons turn from winter to spring, an annual commotion draws near.  This month long hysteria known as March Madness serves as a drug for college basketball enthusiasts.  When you look beyond the brackets, politics and officiating, you’ll find amazing performances, buzzer beaters and even Cinderella.  Although offense is more entertaining, defense wins championships.  If a team can possess both, their squad becomes an impenetrable fortress on their way to the Final Four.

In life, roles are often reversed.  Arrogance, pride and over confidence lull people to sleep spiritually.  Instead of going on the offensive, many Christians resemble a goalie being bombarded with balls and pucks, trying to secure a daily shutout.  However, in the game of life, if you only play defense, you’ll never score.  This feeble strategy results in exhaustion, mental fatigue and emotional burnout, leading to a spirit of defeatism.

In the days of the apostle Paul, the residents of Corinth were avid sports fans, the host of the Corinthian Games, an Summer Olympic like competition.  This likely explains Paul’s use of athletic terminology in his 2 letters to the members of the Corinthian church.  Trying to connect with their culture, Paul addresses a lack of offensive minded individuals.  In 2 Corinthians 10:3-5, Paul reveals why people are failing miserably, they’re not using the proper weapons.  The key to game planning an offensive attack against the devil is through your mind, verse 5.  As soon as you learn how to take each thought captive by making them obedient to Christ, you can begin demolishing spiritual strongholds.  Paul’s further advice in Ephesians 6:10-11 is crucial if you want to begin seeing progress.  Stop being one dimensional, play offense today!

by Jay Mankus

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Diabolical Pride

Posted on February 21, 2013 by expressyourself4him

The phrase pertaining to the devil was developed in the early 1500’s to define diabolical.  Forty years later in 1540, befitting the devil was added to complete modern definitions of this term.  In the 1667 classic Paradise Lost, author John Milton linked diabolical with Satan.  The Greek word diabolos is used by Jews and Christians today to describe the Devil or Satan.

In the 1940’s, C.S. Lewis began to air a sermon series on the radio, known as his Broadcast Talks.  By 1944, this content was published into 3 separate books, eventually forming Mere Christianity.  The second book, Christian Behaviour, completed in 1943, contains one of the most intriguing chapters on pride ever written.  Entitled The Great Sin, chapter 7 addresses the dangers of pride mentioned by Solomon in Proverbs 6:16-19.

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While pride refers to arrogance, conceit and haughtiness, diabolical pride has a darker meaning.  According to Lewis, this type of pride can spiritually blind individuals to the point “you look down on others so much that you do not care what others think.”  Similar to the owner on last week’s episode of Bar Rescue, this man never heard a word that Jon Taffer said.  Despite being a world renown expert in saving bars, night clubs and restaurants from going out of business, this owner of Metal & Lace in Austin, Texas was oblivious to Jon’s constructive criticism.

Escaping the grips of diabolical pride isn’t easy.  The proud have trained themselves to discount any idea, suggestion or thought that doesn’t come within, causing heart felt advice to fall upon deaf ears.  Meanwhile, prideful heads are stuck so high in the sky that unless someone from their inner circle questions them, no change is likely.  Thus, humility through defeat, failure or rejection is the only pathway toward transformation.  Yet, narcissism often lingers like an addiction, deceiving minds from the truth.  Love, time and prayer may be the only factors to rescue an arrogant soul from the chains of diabolical pride.

by Jay Mankus

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The Continuum of Sin

Posted on February 1, 2013 by expressyourself4him

In the film, Behind the Devil’s Door, still in its infant stage, I am attempting to unravel the allure and subtleness of sin.  James, the brother of Jesus uses first century fishing terminology to address the power of sin, James 1:13-15.  Like a fish in hiding, a specific bait get’s their attention, similar to a momentary lapse in judgment.  It only takes a minuscule compromise to get hooked, setting in motion the continuum of sin.

The human mind is like fertile soil, ready to prosper with the right balance of the Son and living water, John 4:13-14.  Unfortunately, this ground is surrounded by fields of weeds, influenced by the flesh, world and spiritual realm.  Winds of temptation blow seeds of self, pleasure and rebellion, seeking to take root in your thought life.  Once implanted, this foreign root system can over ride your will, leading you toward a series of choices near the road called sin.

When detours are taken and U-Turns back toward God aren’t executed, your choices form a cycle of sin, also known as bad habits.  If these habits continue, without holding them in check, unusual behavior results due to a loss in control, forming addictions.  Empowered by a lack of self-discipline, addictions grow into an internal bondage, becoming enslaved to a specific sin or sins, Romans 7:15.

Every month, another minister is exposed by the continuum of sin.  Even if one is not discovered or found out, this pattern continues without public confession or purging sinful elements which produces your desire to sin.  The longer one strays from the narrow road of eternity, Matthew 7:13-14, the more difficult it becomes to escape this bondage and the demonic forces feeding your flesh.  Evil super naturalism then creates a spiritual stronghold, making it impossible to break free on your own.

The James 5:16 principle is the first of many steps toward a path to recovery.  A weekly accountability partner is essential, intervention is highly recommended and divine help through people praying for you can unravel this stronghold.  As for the time, it varies depending upon your degree of sin.  The apostle Paul gives believers further insight in 2 Corinthians 10:3-5 to help you in your battle with the continuum of sin.  Never give up hope as you wrestle to take back control of your heart, soul and mind!

by Jay Mankus

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Spiritually Weeding Out Evil

Posted on September 21, 2012 by expressyourself4him

As an avid gardener, I enjoy picking tomatoes and peppers from my backyard so I can make my special blends of salsa once a week.  After allowing weeds to overrun my garden areas, yesterday I spent a couple of hours ridding the soil from these harmful species.  Since I took several days in the early spring preparing the soil to insure a successful crop, this round of weeding was a breeze compared to a typically year.

In the process of weeding, a passage from Matthew immediately came to mind.  Although most biblical scholars often shy away from commentating on Matthew 12:43-45, I am going to use the context of Matthew 13 to share my heart felt belief.  After a short comment about what it means to be part of God’s family in Matthew 12:46-50, Jesus tells back to back parables on soils and weeds at the beginning of chapter 13.

Soil often symbolizes environments, where we live and whom we allow to enter our lives.  Weeds are like the obstacles that we face in life, things that we can’t control, but we must not allow them to take root, Ephesians 4:27.  If Satan is indeed the ruler of the air, Ephesians 2:2, then evil can attack us in the form of our own flesh, through worldly influences or supernaturally.  Therefore, if you want to be sober, habits, idea, and thoughts must be taken captive, 2 Corinthians 10:3-5.  This daily practice is like spiritual weeding out evil, to protect yourself from demons which roam throughout earth, Job 1:6-7 and Matthew 12:43-45.

by Jay Mankus

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Behind the Devil’s Door

Posted on March 21, 2012 by expressyourself4him

In the movie Chariot’s of Fire, one of Eric Liddell’s spiritual mentors has a profound quote,”compromise is the language of the devil.”  In Genesis 3, the serpent begins to twist the directions concerning the boundaries for Adam and Eve in the garden.  The devil is attempting to create doubt in Eve’s mind so that she will second guess God’s commands from Genesis 2:15-17.  Satan’s goal is to open the door to compromise by encouraging Eve to rationalize her hunger for an apple.

One chapter later, an envious Cain begins to store up a root of bitterness within his heart.  Unable to fully trust God with his first fruits offering, Cain’s jealousy toward his younger brother Abel spreads from his heart to his head.  Successful in deceiving Eve, her first born son is the Devil’s next target.  This time sending a spirit to do his dirty work, crouching over Cain’s mind, planting a seed of murder.  While God steps in to intervene in Genesis 4:6-7, compromise had already occurred, giving birth to sin, James 1:14-15.

One thing that I have learned over the last 20 years in ministry, no one is untouchable.  There is a reason Satan appears as an angel of light, sneaking up on Christians, suggesting a miniscule compromise, then pouncing on them like a lion, seeking to devour their faith.  One day someone can be a spiritual giant, then a moment later they fall from grace by choosing deeds of darkness over the light of Christ, Romans 13:12.  Once people like Judas get behind the Devil’s door, their souls are forever lost.  Although, some have escaped the Devil’s door, Hebrews 10:25-26, they enter heaven without any eternal crowns.  Be on guard, stay alert and pray continually to stay on the narrow path, Matthew 7:13-14.

by Jay Mankus

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