Living faithful, fruitful and fulfilled on the mission field
Before I went into missions I had a grand desire to do something meaningful with my life. I think most of us long for something like that. Our search for meaning and purpose can leave us feeling disappointed with God or ourselves. Disappointment in how …
When I woke up this morning, I wondered what I should write. My first thought was, “Joy is a really big deal.” I didn’t understand this for a long time, actually, joy always seemed right out of my reach. It seemed others were in touch …
I was out in my garden working. Suddenly there was a sharp pain on my chin. I swiped it off – it was a bee. Then there was another buzzing. I flapped my arms wildly but got another sting on my eyebrow. A few minutes later there was more buzzing and another sting on my arm. That was it! I ran inside – to escape the attack. I normally don’t react to bee stings, but this time was different. I felt sick and dizzy. My face painfully puffed up. This experience got me thinking about other times I have been under “spiritual attack”.
Psalm 118 talks about the enemy swarming around us like bees, “but in the name of the Lord I cut them off.” This is a great Psalm that teaches us about the reality of spiritual attack.
In my distress, I called to the LORD,
and He answered and set me free.
The LORD is on my side; I will not be afraid.
What can man do to me?
The LORD is on my side; He is my helper.
Therefore I will look in triumph on those who hate me.
It is better to take refuge in the LORD
than to trust in man.
It is better to take refuge in the LORD
than to trust in princes.
All the nations surrounded me,
but in the name of the LORD I cut them off.
They surrounded me on every side,
but in the name of the LORD I cut them off.
They swarmed around me like bees,
but they were extinguished like burning thorns;
In the name of the LORD, I cut them off.
I was pushed so hard I was falling,
but the LORD helped me.
The LORD is my strength and my song,
and He has become my salvation.
Ps 118: 5-14
How can we tell when pain is from spiritual warfare or natural occurrences? If it is warfare, what can we do about it?
When negative things happen, the first question I ask is, “Lord, where is this coming from?”
1 Cor 12, says the Holy Spirit can give us a gift to discern spirits. We should ask the Lord for discernment, rather than trusting common sense, or what we see with our eyes.
We must find out. Is something allowed by God to train and strengthen us? Or, is this something sent from the enemy to discourage and destroy? Or, is this just part of living on a fallen planet?
Most things in life are not controlled by spirits. We don’t want to give the devil credit for everything!
God created the natural order. Folk Islam and animism create fear. They teach that everything is caused by spirits, jinj, or the supernatural. The Bible teaches that is not true. The world is not controlled by demons. We are part of a rational universe. There are laws that govern it, and consequences to choices.
God made the world, and not everything that happens is because of a demon or angel. Much of what happens is caused by the natural order or the effect of a human decision. This means that science works because of the laws of nature that God created. We also know there is a spiritual dimension because God created the heavens and the earth – (Gen 1:1).
We do have a personal enemy who opposes God. We do not want to be unaware of his schemes or be undone by them. Nor do we want to elevate the devil to view him as an equal to God. They are not even close in their power!
The way the enemy works, however, has similar qualities to bees. It’s good to be aware of this.
Demons sense fear. In the Bible, we are frequently exhorted to be strong and mighty. We are told not to be afraid. This is because fear, pride, and unbelief are all part of the enemy’s strike power.
Fear makes us withdraw. That is what the enemy hopes will happen. Satan wants to hold his territory. He does not want us to bring light into darkness. He wants us to stay away. If he can make us afraid, then it will make us leave, stay silent, or disobey God.
How to deal with the enemy?
With bees, and spiritual warfare, you should work in pairs – one has the smoker, one handles the hive. Spiritually, we need the Helper – we need God to be at our side. He is the one who strengthens us to overcome any opposition.
If you are being effective for the Kingdom, demons will try to get rid of you. They want to make you go away or leave your place of calling. Some scriptural examples are; a demonic storm in Mk. 4, and Jezebel in 1 Kings 18.
Demons seem to be attached to places. In the Bible, they are often named after cities or nations. For example, the “Prince of Persia,” or in Mark five, the demons did not want to be sent out of their location. When we proclaim the gospel, we are a threat to the demons in that location. They want to get rid of you as quickly as they can.
There can be many types of opposition: discouragement, sickness, thoughts of giving up, financial or material loss, or even attacks from others. When there are setbacks, do not take it as guidance that God wants you to give up. Jesus promised us that in this world we would have difficulty. He said that servants are not above their master (Jn 15) and if people hated him, they would hate us as well. Jesus faced many instances of physical and demonic opposition. He did not give up, but finished the task the Father had given him.
We must “Commit ourselves to God” and persevere. Then we will overcome. Our God is far, far greater than any demonic power!
Smoke deals with bees, as the intercession of saints deals with demonic opposition. If the bees are swarming, get the smoker and puff lots of smoke. It confuses, distracts, and disorientates them.
In the Bible, smoke, incense, or the lighting of the lamps is often symbolic of prayer. Jesus dealt with opposition, both physical and spiritual, through prayer. He rebuked demons. He commanded them to be silent. He prayed for those who crucified Him and told us to pray from our enemies – to bless and not curse.
To discern if the opposition is a spiritual attack, check your heart. Is there anything you are doing that you feel guilty about, or that is not good for you? Are your choices causing the problems?
For example, if I lack self-control and stay awake too late at night watching a movie, I feel tired the next day. If I feel flat, or find it hard to concentrate and then make bad decisions, it is my fault – not spiritual warfare. If this is the cause, be honest with God. Repent and make life choices to love him and please him. That is the place of greatest safety – in the refuge of God.
To be under God’s shadow you need to stay close to him. Resisting sin and walking in holiness helps push away the enemy.
When you work with bees, you should wear protective clothing. In times of spiritual attack; holiness, and walking in obedience to God protect. Loving God and others by choosing to be in unity is like the bee suit we put on to keep the sting of the enemy at bay.
Lastly, bee stings are painful but don’t usually kill you. The same with the enemy. He may harass, or incite other people to hurt you. But in the end, his sting will be destroyed. He does not hold the key to eternity. His attack, painful as it may be, is short-lived. One day he will be vanquished totally, and we will say with the rest of those who love Jesus:
“Death has been swallowed up in victory.”
“Where, O Death, is your victory?
Where, O Death, is your sting?” (1 Cor 15:54-55,57)
Thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ! Amen?
Are you facing bee stings? Spiritual attack and harassment from the enemy? Reach out for prayer to a group of trusted friends. Ask them to help you discern what is happening and to intercede with you for victory. Share your prayer need on the Missionary Life Facebook group. We’d love to pray with you.
*This blog was written by guest author R.M and edited by C. Anderson.
Do you know how much money you need each month, and what you spend most of your money on? If you answered no to any of the above questions, you probably don’t have a working plan for finances. This is part of our discipleship, growth, …
When I was starting out as a missionary, I was quite concerned about my finances. This is a word that God spoke to me: “Even to your old age and gray hairs I am he, I am he who will sustain you. I have made …
A common missionary stereotype is a courageous single man hacking through the jungle with a machete, bringing the gospel to tiny hidden villages of indigenous people. That may have been a common expression a hundred years ago. Going solo as a missionary is not, however, the biblical example.
Let‘s look at two examples of missionaries from the Bible – Jesus and Paul. Both of them were outstanding in fruitful ministry, and fulfilling God’s call on their lives.
During his ministry years, Jesus gathered disciples He lived and worked with. That was how He trained and later commissioned them to go and do as He had done. Having a team was a priority to Jesus. Forming that team was His first action after being baptized (Jn 1).
Paul also worked in teams. If we read the end of Romans 16, we see a list of his many coworkers.
What type of teams did they have?
In a word: Diverse!
Often we are more comfortable with teams of people similar to ourselves. Jesus and Paul had very different people in their teams.
Despite cultural divisions between men and women, both Paul and Jesus had them on their teams. Between the sexes our relationships should be honoring, pure, and loving. Our world desperately needs to see healthy, non-sexualized, loving relationships between men and women.
“After this, Jesus traveled about from one town and village to another, proclaiming the good news of the kingdom of God. The Twelve were with him, and also some women who had been cured of evil spirits and diseases: Mary (called Magdalene) from whom seven demons had come out; Joanna the wife of Chuza, the manager of Herod’s household; Susanna; and many others. These women were helping to support them out of their own means.”
Luke 8:1-3 NIV
“Greet Priscilla and Aquila, my co-workers in Christ Jesus. They risked their lives for me. Not only I but all the churches of the Gentiles are grateful to them. Greet also the church that meets at their house. Greet my dear friend Epenetus, who was the first convert to Christ in the province of Asia. Greet Mary, who worked very hard for you…. Greet Tryphena and Tryphosa, those women who work hard in the Lord. Greet my dear friend Persis, another woman who has worked very hard in the Lord.”
Romans 16:3-6, 12 NIV
Sometimes we only want people who are mature on our teams. Young people can be seen as a liability. They may make a mess, quit, or do not know how to do things. However, both Paul and Jesus had many young ones on their teams.
We see in Mt. 17, Jesus and Peter needed to pay the temple tax. at that time, only men over twenty had to pay. It appears that the other disciples were exempt from payment, and so probably still in their teens.
Paul writes: “Greet Rufus, chosen in the Lord, and his mother, who has been a mother to me, too.” Romans 16:13 NIV. Timothy was also a young man- younger than the members of the church he was meant to be leading.
In His close team, Jesus had fishermen, a zealot, a tax collector, and Phillip – a Jew with a Greek name. They came from different social groups. Some were townspeople, others from the seaside, and Nathaniel liked sitting under fig trees. When we have a diverse group we need to work much harder at communication and finding common ground.
Our diversity reflects that character of God. We have the opportunity to live in unity that is founded on being one in Christ rather than one in culture.
Paul’s team was multi-ethnic and multi-lingual.
“Greet Priscilla and Aquila, my co-workers in Christ Jesus..Greet also the church that meets at their house. Greet my dear friend Epenetus, who was the first convert to Christ in the province of Asia…. Greet Urbanus, our co-worker in Christ, and my dear friend Stachys…. Greet Herodion, my fellow Jew. Greet those in the household of Narcissus who are in the Lord. Greet Tryphena and Tryphosa, those women who work hard in the Lord. Greet my dear friend Persis, another woman who has worked very hard in the Lord… Greet Philologus, Julia, Nereus and his sister, and Olympas and all the Lord’s people who are with them. Gaius, whose hospitality I and the whole church here enjoy, sends you his greetings. Erastus, who is the city’s director of public works, and our brother Quartus send you their greetings.”
Romans 16:3, 5, 9, 11-12, 15, 23 NIV
These are the names of Jews, Greeks, Romans, and Asians. They also came from diverse backgrounds, and levels of society – prisoners, tent makers, and city officials.
Why does God want us to work indiverse teams?
It is a reflection of Himself. He is One God, and yet Three- Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. God is love. God is team. The Triune God demonstrates unity in diversity.
How does your current team reflect that diversity?
Are there changes you could make to be more inclusive of those older or younger, of other genders, cultural backgrounds, or worldviews?
We would love to read your thoughts in the comments below or on the Missionary Life Facebook Group.
*this blog post was written by R.M.