Tag Archives: God’s power

Squashing Any Attempts of Mutiny

When a teenager earns the trust of their parent or teacher, this individual often receives a little slack.  Depending upon their response to freedom, this teen will either acquire more or lose these privileges based upon their behavior.  The essence of trust is an assurance that when left alone, a person will continue to walk in credible and reliable ways, 1 Thessalonians 4:1-2.  If trust is broken or respect lost due to unforeseen acts bent on evil, authority figures can step in to squash any attempts at mutiny.

 

Near of end of Israel’s 400 years of slavery in Egypt, Pharaoh became paranoid once his magicians could no longer duplicate the plagues made by the power within Moses’ staff, Exodus 8:18-19.  In fact, the sight of Moses in Pharaoh’s presence became like bad news, probably thinking to himself, “okay, what’s the next plague God is going to send my way?”  While Pharaoh kept promising Moses that he would allow Israel to worship the Lord in the desert, in the back of his mind he doubted their motives, Exodus 10:8-11.  Ticked off by a 3 day plague of darkness, Pharaoh lost his cool, banishing Moses from his presence, Exodus 10:27-29.  As a last ditch effort to squash the mutiny he believed Israel was planning, Pharaoh threatened to kill Moses if he ever entered the king’s presence again.

Playing cards vector

One thing I have learned in life, if God is up to something, no human hand, leader or nation can hold back His power.  Unfortunately, God’s timing is different from man’s timing, Ecclesiastes 3:11, causing mankind to scratch their heads, confused by righteous causes that are squashed and evil which prospers.  However, in these moments of frustration, one must remember the wisdom of Job 42:1-6.  Therefore, as you make the best of the hand God has dealt you, don’t fold until you have planned the game of life with every ounce of your heart, Colossians 3:17.

by Jay Mankus

Lost in Time

In the 1995 mini-series Langoliers, written by Stephen King, an airplane experiences a bizarre event, something out of Bermuda Triangle documentary.  Those who were sleeping when their plane enters a time gap, a place lost in time, survived only to encounter the langoliers.  Like an episode of Macgyver, the core cast of survivors return to the air, searching for this hole in the universe, relying on their instincts to escape calamity.

Joseph, the son of Jacob, lives out a similar nightmare beginning in Genesis 37:12, continuing until Genesis 40:23.  His brother’s faked his death, he was sold into slavery, falsely accused of rape and forgotten by the king’s cupbearer while in prison.  Despite these unfortunate and untimely events, Joseph demonstrates a perseverance mentioned in James 1:2-4.  Lost in time, Joseph displays an unswerving faith until God rescues him from the chains of prison, Genesis 41:14.

While I can’t speak for everyone, I feel as if I’ve seen this movie before except this time I am the one lost, forgotten, waiting for someone to remember, Genesis 40:23.  Though Joseph’s commentary is not contained in Genesis, if he kept a journal during his ordeals, I am sure he was scratching his head, trying to figure out what God was doing.  Fortitude was a key ingredient, giving Joseph the courage to press on regardless of what trial flew his way.  Thus, if you are feeling like road kill, left for dead and forgotten, bear down and lift up your situation to the God of the Living so that redemption will occur soon.  Keep the faith!

by Jay Mankus

The Real Incredible Hulk

I’m not talking about Lou Ferrigno who played the Incredible Hulk for 5 seasons on the television series which aired on CBS from 1978-1982.  Nor am I referring to a Marvel Comic superhero like Spider Man, whose powers came as a result of a freak chemical accident.  Rather, the real incredible hulk was a man born around 1100 BC, over 3100 years ago.

In the annuals of history, records reveals civilizations of Nephilim, descendants of giants, Genesis 6:4.  However, the living hulk came from a traditional family, son of Manoah.  His birth in itself was a miracle, since his mother was sterile according to Judges 13:2-3.  Although an angel of the Lord foretold of Samson’s birth, this hulk received his power by keeping the Nazarene covenant with God: no razor shall touch his hair, no wine shall reach his lips and nothing unclean will touch his hands.

As a result, this incredible hulk tore apart the mouths of lions with his bare hands, Judges 14:5, killed 1,000 Philistines with a donkey’s jawbone, Judges 15:16 and pulled down the 2 pillars to a temple he was tied to, Judges 16:29-30.  Like comic book super heroes, Samson’s Kryptonite was a beautiful woman named Delilah.  Similar to a Hatfield marrying a McCoy, his marriage led to his subsequent death,  When Samson finally gave Delilah what she was after, the secret to his strength, his fate was sealed.

While alive, the incredible hulk did not rely on anger to display his might.  Samson’s supernatural power was bestowed upon him by God, a clear blessing from staying true to his parent’s vows.  Once Delilah cut his hair, Samson was powerless, cut off from God’s Spirit.  In this world filled with temptations, don’t allow compromise to render you useless.  Follow the words of Moses in Deuteronomy 28:1-2 and you will see incredible changes as you serve the Creator who endows all spiritual hulks!

by Jay Mankus

The Fireproof Test

Part of any firefighting school involves a basic review of the 4 stages of fire.  Beginning with incipient, fires grow until fully developed, eventually decaying over time due to a lack of energy.  A fire needs 3 components to form: an ignition source, oxygen and a fuel source.  Sparks trigger the initial flame, but the classification of each fire depends upon the amount of fuel which is available and degree of oxygen inside.

From a spiritual point of view, Christians have another test to determine their condition.  As kindling begins to catch, a lukewarm fire is born.  If consistently maintained, a fire can blossom into poppers, bursting out of comfort zones, consuming any liquid or sap within wood.  Once mature, raging fires blaze, spreading from person to person, as new logs are added.  However, if not properly supervised, fires can burn outsiders and lead to flickering embers, prior to dying out.

The Bible contains 3 elements which magnify the amount of spiritual heat a person gives off.  First, one must ask, have you seen the light of God’s Word, Acts 9:1-2, while hearing or reading the Bible?  Second, have you received the life of God’s Spirit, Acts 9:17, ignited and filled by the power of the Holy Spirit?  Finally, have you been compelled to display the love of Jesus, Acts 9:20-22, by sharing your testimony with a person?  This assessment, The Fireproof Test, seeks to ascertain whether or not your faith is on fire.  If your soul is not consumed by a raging fire, may you see the light, rise to new heights and flourish with God’s might!

by Jay Mankus

ps – The inspiration for this blog came after listening to a sermon from James Merritt, founder of Touching Lives, a ministry on TBN.  For music lovers, U2’s The Unforgettable Fire album contains several songs to ignite your journey.

I Can’t Believe It’s Real!

When I visit my parents over Christmas, my viewing habits usually change, watching a show that one of my sisters, mom or dad enjoys.  On an evening several years ago, my older sister and I began watching an A&E marathon of Cold Case Files.  Though intrigued by the technology, nothing in the first few episodes grabbed my attention.  As I was about to call it a night, a quote from a detective from California blew my mind;  stating emphatically, “yeah, demonic forces are behind many of the serial rapist and killers in our state!”

The context of this statement was in reference to a confession made by a serial rapist and murderer who had recently been detained by police.  According to this man, when he was 13, he was seduced by a demon in a dream.  After many reoccurring dreams, he began to follow a voice in his head to first rape females; then over time kill women after raping them.  Instead of saying the devil made him do it, he said, “a succubus made me do!”  In the awkwardness of the moment, my sister and I looked at each other thinking, I can’t believe that’s real!  At the conclusion of this case, I ran down stairs, entering my parents’ computer room to prove this non-sense wrong.  What I found, changed my perspective on the spiritual realm.

Like the latest State Farm Commercial, you have to be careful about the sites and sources you reference and research on the internet.  Places like Wikipedia, Urban Dictionary and Occult websites can cloud your judgment as well as fill your minds with unwholesome images.  The Meriam-Webster dictionary gives the most accurate account revealing Incubus as male demons who tempt woman into having sex when they sleep and Succubus as female demons who tempt men when they sleep.  However, I wanted to go deeper than a definition to see if there were any case studies or real life encounters that appeared credible.  In my initial search, I discovered 3 with historical documentation.  My findings suggest what some law enforcement officers already believe; there is a direct correlation between demonic forces and violent crimes like rape and murder.

Over my 29 years as a Christian, its clear there are several topics considered taboo for churches to address from the pulpit.  According to Dr. James Dobson, founder of Focus on the Family Ministries, roughly 25 % of all pastors in America, struggle with some form of pornography.  If one of these men or women tried to speak out by confessing their sin, most if not all would have their positions terminated.  Thus, sexual issues like Incubus and Succubus are never mentioned, swept under the rug with all the other controversial issues.  I’m not a biblical scholar nor do I claim to be one, yet it appears Incubus and Succubus fall under the category of spiritual forces of evil mentioned in Ephesians 6:12.  My objective for this piece is not too promote panic each time you go to bed.  Rather, I want each person to be armed with the power of God’s Word, the Bible, so that you will successfully take your thoughts captive as you sleep, 2 Corinthians 10:3-5.  Remember the promise of 1 John 4:4, “Greater is He who is in you than is he who is in the world!”

by Jay Mankus