power of God

House Divided

Posted on by Betsy

I am sure you are familiar with the famous phrase used by Abraham Lincoln that proclaimed that houses that are divided against themselves are unable to stand. He said this in his address in 1858 when he was chosen to be the Republican candidate for the United States Senate, representing Illinois. The issue at hand was slavery. Lincoln maintained that slavery would destroy the unity of the United States. He postulated that the union could not be maintained with half of the states allowing something that the other half vehemently opposed. He was prophetic in his words, and the Civil War broke out in 1861.

But not only was he prophetical, but he was also biblical. The warning about a house divided is found in three New Testament books. We see it in Mark 3:25, in Matthew 12:25, and in today’s passage from Luke. Jesus warned that a house that is torn apart by divisions will collapse and cautioned that kingdoms involved in civil wars become wastelands.

The issue in this passage was the reaction onlookers had when he threw a demon out of a man who was mute. The Jewish leaders could also cast out demons but believed that it could only be done if you called out the demon by name. Because this demon caused muteness, they thought the man couldn’t be healed. Jesus’ actions caused many in the crowd to accuse him of partnering with Satan to accomplish this.

Luke 11 (Common English Bible)

14 Jesus was throwing out a demon that causes muteness. When the demon was gone, the man who couldn’t speak began to talk. The crowds were amazed. 15 But some of them said, “He throws out demons with the authority of Beelzebul, the ruler of demons.”16 Others were testing him, seeking a sign from heaven.

17 Because Jesus knew what they were thinking, he said to them, “Every kingdom involved in civil war becomes a wasteland, and a house torn apart by divisions will collapse. 18 If Satan is at war with himself, how will his kingdom endure? I ask this because you say that I throw out demons by the authority of Beelzebul. 19 If I throw out demons by the authority of Beelzebul, then by whose authority do your followers throw them out? Therefore, they will be your judges. 20 But if I throw out demons by the power of God, then God’s kingdom has already overtaken you. 21 When a strong man, fully armed, guards his own palace, his possessions are secure.22 But as soon as a stronger one attacks and overpowers him, the stronger one takes away the armor he had trusted and divides the stolen goods.

Jesus employed strong logic and clever rhetoric when he pointed out that if he was in league with Satan and yet cast a demon of Satan out of a man, Satan’s entire enterprise would be at war with itself and collapse. No indeed, it was the power of God that accomplished this.

This is such good news for anyone who finds themself in bondage today. In many ways we all find ourselves facing inner demons that threaten to undo us. But hear this good news! There is no demon of temptation, self-destruction, addiction, sin, grief, abandonment, or failure that God can’t overcome.

23 “Whoever isn’t with me is against me, and whoever doesn’t gather with me, scatters.

Who will you stand with? Who stands with you? There is only one answer. Jesus is the stronger man who disarms even the strongest of Satan’s attackers. Jesus engaged Satan in a battle and showed without question that he is the stronger man. He defeated Satan and disarmed him. At the end of the passage, Jesus reminded us that we are either for him or against him. There is no middle ground. If you stand with Jesus, you will be released from your bondage. Praise be to God!

Path to the Sun by Ginger Endreson

Burning Man

Posted on by Betsy

I am one of those mothers who raised her children not to use the word hate. I was hoping to avoid that moment in middle school when one of them would yell “I hate you!” at me. (Sadly, and predictably, it didn’t work.) I encouraged them to say they didn’t care for something, or didn’t like a particular thing, but the word hate was on the bad-word list.

I am working on a women’s retreat based on Ecclesiastes 3. This Scripture affirms that there is a time for everything, even hate. After doing some research and praying for illumination, I realized that there are many things we should hate. Injustice. Prejudice. Evil. Abuse. Violence. Everything that opposes God.

Several months ago I read something on X/Twitter that I absolutely hated, and I don’t mind saying that. The question was asked, “Who are your favorite women pastors, preachers, theologians, teachers, authors, etc.” A male pastor responded that actually, he preferred these women “hanged or burnt.” He later added “or drowned.”

I realize that Twitterverse is full of ignorance, where cowards hide behind a wall and hurl hateful words under a guise of anonymity. But this guy is so full of himself, he used his real name and the denomination he represents. His church eventually took down his hateful rhetoric, but his tweet had been screenshotted and shared. I hope he lost his job. Some responders tried to defend him by explaining that this denomination was ”traditional.” Really? If you think that burning, hanging, and drowning women fit in with your tradition, I can’t help you.

Today’s psalm comes at a good time for my heart. It reminds me that God is the ruler of everything, and he sits on a throne of righteousness and justice. There is a fire that goes before the Lord that “burns,” but it won’t be the women preachers. It will be the enemies of God on every side … and surely people who use their positions and pulpits to spew hatred that is antithetical to the Gospel will feel its heat, in due time.

Psalm 97 (Common English Bible)

The Lord rules! Let the earth rejoice!
    Let all the islands celebrate!
2 Clouds and thick darkness surround God.
    His throne is built on righteousness and justice.
3 Fire proceeds before him,
    burning up his enemies on every side.
4 His lightning lights up the world;
    the earth sees it and trembles!

5 The mountains melt like wax before the Lord,
    before the Lord of the whole world!

Famous commentator Charles Spurgeon reminds us that God is the great leveler of mountains: “Men cannot move the hills, with difficulty do they climb them, with incredible toil do they pierce their way through their fastnesses, but it is not so with the Lord. His presence makes a clear pathway, obstacles disappear, a highway is made, and that not by his hand as though it cost him pains, but by his mere presence, for power goes forth from him with a word or a glance.”

If you are facing an insurmountable mountain this morning, go to the One who can melt it like wax.

6 Heaven has proclaimed God’s righteousness,
    and all nations have seen his glory.
7 All those who worship images,
    those who are proud of idols,
    are put to shame.
    All gods bow down to the Lord!
8 Zion has heard and celebrates,
    the towns of Judah rejoice,
    because of your acts of justice, Lord,
9     because you, Lord, are the Most High
        over all the earth,
    because you are so superior to all other gods.

It was interesting to read the responses to the pastor’s tweet. Many encouraged others to speak out against his evil. While addressing the violence he advocated in his “joke,” many people took this as an opportunity to speak out against prejudice and to promote the true Christian ideal of love, inclusivity, and justice.

10 Those of you who love the Lord, hate evil!
    God guards the lives of his faithful ones,
    delivering them from the power of the wicked.

While I hope this man is sanctioned for his words, I know that God is using this conversation to bring forth a justice of its own kind. The fact that his church removed the tweet gives me hope. Somebody is paying attention. Somebody is sowing a seed of righteousness that proclaims that this is not acceptable. Somebody is shining a light on his misogyny, and God will be his judge.

11 Light is planted like seed for the righteous person;
    joy too for those whose heart is right.
12 Rejoice in the Lord, righteous ones!
    Give thanks to his holy name!

This is good for us to remember today. We can rejoice in the Lord ALWAYS. We can rest in knowing that God is bringing justice and healing in his wings. No matter what injury you have suffered, no matter what injustice you have received, God will make it right in the end.

Give thanks to his holy name!

Light is Planted by Michelle Robertson

Raising Up a Roar

Posted on by Betsy

Coastal storms (often called ”Nor’easters”) in the Outer Banks are a very present reminder of the power of the water. Certainly during storms and hurricanes, we see extraordinary and damaging tides, waves, and flooding. I had a conversation with an Atlanta friend last week about the precariousness of living on a small island off a small island, and explained that sometimes the road connecting us to the main road gets so flooded that it becomes impassable. Of course it is usually a matter of waiting about 12 hours for the wind to shift, but even as I was saying it, I had a renewed appreciation for the majestic and dangerous power of water.

During a recent off-shore storm, I could hear the roar of the ocean from the front steps of my church. Given the fact that the church is located three miles inland, that is saying something.

The 93rd Psalm uses imagery of robes, thrones, floods, and waves to describe the power of God. Even with the first line, we see the psalmist taking a stand against all of the earthly powers and pretender idols:

Psalm 93 (Common English Bible)

The Lord rules!

Right out of the gate, the psalmist makes his position clear … the Lord reigns over everything. Substitutions and fakes need not apply. Then the writer goes on to describe how the Lord is clothed:

He is robed in majesty—
    the Lord is robed,
    clothed with strength.

The word majesty conveys a sense of dignity, sovereign power, and grandeur. The first listeners to this psalm would have had a beautiful word-picture of God that could stand in contrast to the wooden or metal false gods of their neighbors.

Yes, he set the world firmly in place;
    it won’t be shaken.
2 Your throne is set firm for a very long time.
    You are eternal!

This invites the listener to compare the temporary thrones of the earthly kings to the permanent throne of God. The psalmist contends that there was never a time when God’s throne didn’t exist. What a comforting thought!

3 Lord, the floods have raised up—
    the floods have raised up their voices;
    the floods raise up a roar!
4 But mightier than the sound of much water,
    mightier than the sea’s waves,
    mighty on high is the Lord!

Hurricane Irene hit the Outer Banks during the first year that we lived here. The flooding and winds caused $25,000 worth of damage to our home. We lost a chimney, followed by two days of rain water that poured into two rooms of our house. We lost a dock, and the canal water flooded the entire back yard up to the house, where it took out our HVAC system. And we lost a car. When you live through something like that, you understand the power of water and floods. But God’s power is far greater, thanks be to God!

5 Your laws are so faithful.
    Holiness decorates your house, Lord, for all time.

This short but impactful Psalm is a great reminder today of the strength of the God we serve. There is nothing in this life that has more power than God. There is no earthly power, no force of evil, no demon or antagonist that can ever threaten or harm those who are children of God. Even death bows in obeisance to the eternal throne of the Lord.

No matter what you are up against today, take heart. God rules! His covenant lasts forever! And he is mightier than the storm that you are in. Thanks be to God.

Water’s Power by Michelle Robertson