Someone Told Me That My Son Has a "Spirit of Laziness?"

Personally, I do not subscribe to the "spirit (demon) behind every bush" theology.  Many times we attach the word "spirit" to something, when in reality the problem is an attitude, a fleshly issue or a negative stronghold in our lives.

The Bible does indeed identify several "spirits."  Let me name a few:

spirit of heaviness (depression)--Isaiah 61:3

spirit of holiness--Romans 1:4

spirit of bondage--Romans 8:15

spirit of slumber (the result of hardened hearts)--Romans 11:8

spirit of meekness--1 Corinthians 4:21

spirit of faith--2 Corinthians 4:13

spirit of wisdom--Ephesians 1:17

spirit of fear--2 Timothy 1:7

spirit of truth and the spirit of error--1 John 4:6

Used in these contexts, the word "spirit" refers to an outside spiritual influence that attaches itself to the soul of a person--his mind, will and emotions.  These can be either positive or negative.  They are spiritual influences that "hold on" and which become strongholds.  A stronghold by definition is a system of thinking, attitudes, beliefs and expectations that develop over a period of time.  To summarize, a "spirit" involves an external force, while a stronghold builds from within a person.  One does, however, feed into the other.  Both attach themselves to the soul of a person.  Remember, the Christian life is played out on the battlefield of the mind.

Take a few minutes to read Proverbs 6:1-15.  The preacher talks about the lazy person, or the sluggard.  Let me single out verses 3-5.  "Do this then, my son, and deliver yourself; since you have come into the hand of your neighbor, go humble yourself, and importune your neighbor.  Give no sleep to your eyes, nor slumber to your eyelids; deliver yourself like a gazelle from the hunter's hand and like a bird from the hand of the fowler."

What is he saying?  Notice three very important phrases here: "deliver yourself," "humble yourself," and again "deliver yourself."  In other words, take responsibility for your actions and habits.  Years ago Chuck Swindoll wrote, "Sow a thought, reap an attitude.  Sow an attitude, reap a habit.  Sow a habit, reap a character.  Sow a character, reap a destiny."  We are responsible not for the thoughts that knock on our mind gate, but for what we do with those thoughts.

Laziness is a choice.  People choose to become lazy.  Some spirit named "LAZY" does not attach itself to your son, or anyone else for that matter.  He, through his own volition, makes a choice to be lazy.  He needs to be renewed in the "spirit of his mind" (Romans 12:2).  In other words, he needs to re-train his mind to be productive and to develop a strong work ethic.

Let's go back to Proverbs 6.  Verses 9-11 say, "How long will you lie down, O sluggard?  When will you arise from your sleep?  A little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to rest--Your poverty will come in like a vagabond and your need like an armed man."

Laziness is a personal choice, not a spirit.  The Apostle Paul was rather hard on laziness when he told the believers in Thessalonica, "...if anyone is not willing to work, then he is not to eat, either.  For we hear that some among you are leading an undisciplined life, doing no work at all..." (2 Thessalonians 3:10-11).  In this case, laziness was not a spirit, but an attitude.  Freeloaders have been around a long time!

No, your son does not have a "spirit of laziness."  He just needs to re-think his position, change his attitude, make a character adjustment and get up off that couch!  In closing, sometimes it takes harsh circumstances to get through to some people.  Ask the prodigal son, who after spending his inheritance, found out that corn husks and pig pens are everything they're cracked up to be!

Don't waste your time praying against a "spirit of laziness."  Give him an ultimatum.  The preacher gave the sluggard an ultimatum in Proverbs 6, and you can, too!  Show him you love him by giving him a swift kick in the seat of his intentions!

How Do We Take the Lord's Name in Vain?

The most obvious way one takes His precious Name in vain is by using it through cursing.  When folks use the Name of God and Jesus Christ to express ungodly emotional outbursts, how this must grieve His heart.  God's last name is not "Damn," and Jesus Christ is so holy and precious; so when people use His Name in such an appalling manner, they curse the only Name that can save them!

A second way God's Name is used vainly is when people use His Name, but do not direct their thoughts and exclamations to His Person.  Let me explain.  Often we hear people say, "Oh my God!"  It's all to easy to get caught up in this misguided phrase.  Throughout the Psalms David and others continually use this phrase, but only when they address God Himself.  When employed in this manner, God receives praise, reverence and glory.  For example, In Psalm 63:1 we read, "Oh my God, You are my God, I shall seek You earnestly."  David is directing His thoughts to his God.

However, when we haphazardly use the phrase, "Oh my God" to voice our displeasure or surprise, our focus is not on God.  We take the awesomeness of His Name and misdirect it. We apply it irreverently.  When I was growing up, we were corrected for saying, "Gosh, Gee, or heck," for these expressions were thought to be substitutes for God, Jesus and hell.  Regardless of the validity of such thinking, it behooves us as believers to guard the use of questionable nouns!  So, if you use the phrase, "Oh my  God," make sure it's Him to whom you are speaking.

There's a third way we use God's Name in vain.  It's perhaps more subtle than the first two.  It disguises itself nicely under the cloak of spirituality!  When we use His Name without permission, we use it in vain.  How many times have believers said, "God told me," or "God spoke to me" to manipulate or control a situation?  Still, others use His Name to get what they want.  Saints, only use His Name when you get permission from the Throne.  Don't misquote the Lord!  Don't use His Name to support your selfish ambitions or to feed your self-centered desires.  Don't use His Name meaninglessly!

Finally, we take the Lord's Name in vain when we worship Him with our mouth, but do not honor Him with our hearts.  The Old Testament prophets repeatedly directed this indictment toward Israel.  Jesus quoted Isaiah 29:13 when He said, "The people honor Me with their lips, but their hearts are far away from Me; but in vain do they worship Me, teaching as doctrines the precepts of men" (Matthew 15:8-9)

The Lord is looking for heartfelt, true worshipers.  He wants us to put our hearts where our mouths are and vice versa.  Determine in your heart to sincerely honor the Lord's Name, both in conduct and word.  His Name is earth's most precious.  One song writer said, "He's the hope of earth and joy of heaven."  Don't you just love His Name?

When Were You Called to Preach?

I love talking about my "call to preach!"  Thanks for asking.

In retrospect, I see my call into the ministry as progressive.  Before I discuss my personal journey, let me remind you that all of us are called to salvation.  You are not a second class Christian if you have not been called into what people refer to as "the ministry."  Everyone, for that matter, has a ministry.

I can't ever remember not wanting to be a preacher.  In elementary school, my third grade teacher asked our class one day what we wanted to be when we grew up.  Of course, the answers were pretty standard: a fireman, a ball player, a police officer, a teacher, etc.  When it came to my turn, I proudly said, "I want to be a preacher!"  My teacher was shocked!

Guess what?  I didn't really know what preachers did, but I still had my heart set on becoming one!  Now I know it was the Holy Spirit nudging my heart.  At any rate, my focus remained on the church.  I fell in love with that little Assemblies of God church in Jefferson, Ohio.  One evening the pastor and his wife visited our home.  I was feeling quite dejected that evening, and when it came time for introductions, I hid in the corner.  Sister Strahsburg noticed that shy little boy in the corner, made her way to me, knelt down in front of me--face to face--and said, "My, what a handsome little boy you are!"  What she didn't know at the time was that kids at school that very day had called me "fat head" and really hurt my feelings.  She gently placed her hands on both sides of my head and just loved me.  Her smile and love melted my heart.  I ran to my bedroom, threw myself on my bed and cried and cried.  That night I determined to become a preacher!

Four or five years later, my pastor's wife took me to camp, where I was gloriously saved and called to preach!  The progressive calling on my life was birthed into reality on Tuesday, August 4, 1970!  I knew exactly what I was going to do with my life when I got up from that altar.  No doubts!  I was called to preach the gospel.

The call continued to intensify over the next few years, when in 1974 the Lord directed me to enroll at Evangel College (now University) in Springfield, Missouri.  I earned a double major in Mass Communications and Biblical Studies.  I guess my melancholy personality needed a back-up plan!  When I met Lori Owens and things got serious, she informed me that she would not marry me unless I was going into "the ministry."  Hallelujah!  I was able to quickly announce, "Of course, I've always wanted to be a preacher!"  The rest is history.

Now, five churches, four kids, six grandchildren, and 35 years later, I cannot thank God enough for calling me to preach earth's greatest message.  Sometimes I feel like Paul, "Woe is me if I preach not the gospel" (1 Corinthians 9:16).

I marvel at the grace and goodness of God when I think about Him calling that middle Loomis boy--the shy, backwards one, the most unlikely--to preach the gospel.  Not a day passes when I don't thank Him for His love and mercy.

What Do We Do When Our Dreams Die?

How do we handle it when our dreams die, especially the ones we thought were God-given?

This question has touched me deeply, because I'm grieving over the death of a dream in my own life.  Let me give you 12 examples of people in Scripture who experienced the death of their dreams.

1.  Joseph received 2 God-given dreams, then was cast into a pit, sold into slavery, served in Potiphar's house and ended up in prison (Genesis 37-50).

2.  Moses was commissioned by "I AM THAT I AM" to lead the children of Israel out of Egyptian bondage.  Later, he and his brother, Aaron, were rejected by the Israelites as situations went from bad to worse (Exodus 5).

3.  Moses sent out 12 men to spy out the Promised Land.  Only 2 came back with a positive report and the people wanted to stone them and cast Moses aside (Numbers 13-14).

4.  Samson, the prophet-playboy of Israel, was raised up to judge the people, but allowed his uncontrolled passions to alter his assignment (Judges 16).

5.  Saul, Israel's first king, began his reign with great promise and ended up falling on his own sword while fighting the Philistines (1 Samuel 15:22-23).

6.  David, Israel's king-to-be, found himself physically, spiritually and mentally exhausted after running from King Saul, only to learn that the Amalekites had taken captive his wife and children (1 Samuel 30:1-4).

7.  King David's heart was crushed after learning his best friend, Jonathan, had been killed in battle (2 Samuel 1).

8.  God put it in the heart of David to bring the ark of God to its resting place in Jerusalem.  David's plan was foiled when Uzzah, the priest, was struck dead after trying to steady the ox cart which carried the ark (2 Samuel 6).

9.  David made plans to build the temple, but was refused by God because he had been a man of war and the cause of much bloodshed in Israel (1 Chronicles 22:8).

10.  David's one-night-stand with Bathsheba, their unplanned pregnancy, Uriah's murder, and their baby's subsequent death caused the monarch much grief throughout the remaining years of his life (2 Samuel 12).

11.  Israel's exiles listened to the promises of false prophets regarding their future (Jeremiah 29).

12.  Stephen, the newly-selected deacon, a man full of the Holy Spirit and wisdom and one whose life exhibited great potential in the infant Church, was stoned (Acts 6).

All of us have experienced the death of a dream.  During these times, we either get bitter or better.  Sometimes we never fully understand the "why's" of God, but the above examples of dreams that died perhaps give us insights that may help us deal with our own losses.

1.  Joseph's dreams died temporarily, only to be resurrected thirteen years after he was thrown into the pit.  Remember, timing is everything when it comes to God's plan for our lives.

2.  It looked like Moses' dream to lead the children of Israel died, but really God was testing his obedience and trust in the face of overwhelming circumstances.

3.  Regarding the twelve spies, sometimes our dreams die at the hands of those around us.  When the inequities of life steal our dreams, we have to lay them at the feet of an all-loving, all-knowing God, who eventually evens the score.

4.  Ask Samson.  Some dreams die because we allow sin and the lust of our flesh to override God's plan.

5.  King Saul saw his dream die because he allowed jealousy, rage and bitterness to control his life.  Sin is a dream-killer.

6.  When David discovered his wife and kids had been taken captive by the Amalekites, he "cried until he could cry no more."  Sometimes God allows our dream to die so that we "come to the end of ourselves" and trust Him completely.

7.  David learned that precious Jonathan had died.  His soul was crushed.  We make one of two choices when life dashes our dreams and breaks our heart:  (1) to either fall upon the Rock and find mercy, or (2) to blame God, become bitter and allow circumstances to crush us.

8.  Some dreams die when God tests our motivations behind our actions.  We have to live our lives in keeping with God's revealed will.

9.  David wanted to build the Temple in Jerusalem.  Sometimes our dreams die because they are not OUR dreams!  God has assigned what we thought was our dream to someone else!

10. David and Bathsheba lost their baby.  God did not punish the baby, but sin brings terrible consequences to our choices.

11. Israel rejected the prophetic voice of Jeremiah and chose to listen to false prophets.  Sometimes our dreams die when we listen to the wrong voices.

12. Stephen's future ministry looked promising, but he was martyred.  Sometimes our dreams die because God has a much larger purpose in mind for us.  Stephen's death caused the early disciples of Jesus to spread out all over the Roman Empire, thus taking the Gospel to people and lands that Stephen could not go to by himself.  

Have you experienced the death of a dream?  Let me encourage you to do what David did when he lost his baby and when his wife and children were captured by the Amalekites:  WORSHIP GOD -- the highest form of faith when things go from bad to worse!

Do You Have a Favorite Bible Character?

Actually, I have three favorite Bible characters--the "Three J's!"

First, I want to see Jesus!  I have personally known Him for over 42 years.  I celebrated my 42nd spiritual re-birth (birthday) on August 4, 2012.  Like you, I'm not sure what I will do when I see Him face to face.  Will I weep?  Will I fall down at His feet and worship Him?  Will I be speechless?  It really doesn't matter.  I just want to see Him!  I've always loved the words to this old chorus:

"It will be worth it all,

When we see Jesus.

Life's trials will seem so small,

When we see Christ.

One glimpse of His dear face,

All sorrow will erase.

So bravely run your race,

'til you see Christ."

This wonderful Jesus changed my life so dramatically, and the older I get, the more precious He becomes!

Second, I want to talk with Joseph.  The boy dreamer faced obstacles on his course that would have sidelined most.  He met with unfair circumstances, false accusations, lonely days, and much rejection.  However, his defining moment was positive and wonderful.  It's found in Genesis 50:20, "As for you (his brothers), you meant evil against me, but God meant it for good, in order to bring about this present result to preserve many people alive."  I appreciate Joseph's resolve to remain on the high road of life.  Many would succumb to bitterness for lesser reasons.  He's one of my heroes!

When we meet, I want to ask Joseph for more details about the pit, Potiphar's house, the prison, and finally, his years in the palace of Pharaoh.  By the way, Joseph is a "type" of Jesus in the Old Testament.  There are many parallels to their earthly lives.

Third, when I get to heaven I want to hang out with Jonathan for at least one-thousand years!  As you remember, Jonathan was King Saul's son--heir apparent to the throne of Israel.  His most notable attribute was his selflessness.  He surely must have suspected that David would be God's next choice for the throne, but he still loved him like a brother.  When I read 1 Samuel 18:1-4, I glean insights into his character--insights that I admire and relish for my own life.

"Now it came about when he had finished speaking to Saul, that the soul of Jonathan was knit to the soul of David, and Jonathan loved him as himself.  Saul took him that day and did not let him return to his father's house.  Then Jonathan made a covenant with David because he loved him as himself. Jonathan stripped himself of he robe that was on him and gave it to David, with his armor, including his sword and his bow and his belt."

Verse 4 says it all:  "Jonathan stripped himself..."  Naturally, his robe was the robe worn by a prince.  When he gave his robe to David, he gave away not only his title, but his influence!  What a selfless act!

He also gave away his armor, including his sword, bow and belt.  These items were instruments of war, and in giving them to David, Jonathan further revealed his inner character.

In ancient Israel military life, the sword represented the soldier's key weapon of protection.  In essence, Jonathan was saying, "I'll do anything and everything to protect you.  You're my brother!"  Later, he would prove his commitment when his own father, King Saul, tried to kill David.  The soldier's bow spoke of his inner and physical strength.  Jonathan spent the rest of his life supporting David's dreams and doing everything he could to see that David reached his intended goals!

The soldier's belt of course, held fast his undergarment.  Not only was a tightly-worn garment imperative in battle, but it also protected a man's dignity.  Time and again, Jonathan stood up to his angry King-father on David's behalf.  He stayed true to his father, but felt compelled to subtly override Saul's relentless attacks on David's character and motivations.  To summarize, in giving  David his robe and armor, Jonathan demonstrated "what's mine is yours."

Jonathan was a man's man--a true man of God.  He beautifully portrayed true friendship with David.  Most men today don't know how to have true male friends.  Usually, competitive mindsets, controlling attitudes, selfishness, frail egos and disloyalty prohibit most men from becoming and remaining life-long friends like David and Jonathan.  I'm looking forward to hearing from Jonathan more details about his and David's friendship.