Pray For The Peace of Jerusalem
The Names and Titles of God (Christ of God)
Luke 9:20
20 He said unto them, But whom say ye that I am? Peter answering said, The Christ of God.
King James Version
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Last night, as I was walking Tippy around the neighborhood, I was approached by a neighbor who had recently finished renovating a mobile home in the community. She was ready to move in, and sell the other house where she had been living, two doors away. However, the previous occupant of the house had been a recluse, and not a nice person. Although the house had been stripped down to the studs and totally refurbished, the workers on the house detected some very bad energy, and some had refused to return to the house. The neighbor asked me if I could perform a "smudging ceremony" to rid the house of evil spirits. I was taken aback a bit, and replied that I don't do that kind of thing, but I would be happy to say a Prayer of Blessing over her house, right NOW, if she wanted. I asked her what gave her the idea that I could do a rite like that.
She replied that MY house positively glowed with Peace and Love. Not only that, I have a lovely herb garden, so she just assumed I was "Wiccan".
"I'm a CHRISTIAN," I declared.
At that, the two women visibly recoiled from me. It was weird. It was as if I had erected a force field around myself by declaring my faith. Both ladies mumbled that they were "spiritual and NOT religious" and bade me good night. I went home, and, in good faith, looked up the CHRISTIAN way of exorcising evil from a house, just in case she asks me again. But, this morning, as I walked the dog, I was given several Scriptures that told me NOT to get involved. One of them was Matthew 6:6, and the other was Acts 19:14-16.
Both Passages warn against getting involved in the spiritual realm ill-prepared and among those who view the anointing of God with contempt. There is a part of me that really wants to help, but there is also a prideful part of me who would like to be seen as some kind of powerful spiritual person. It's a real struggle. Lots of people get involved in ministry because it gives a boost to their ego and pride. I have to guard my heart against that. As James said 7 Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. (James 4:7).
While I know that "Greater is He that is in me, than he that is in the world" (1 John 4:4), I also know that, God, in His Wisdom, has not commissioned me to be an exorcist...at least not yet.
There is even a Scripture that speaks of cleansing a house of evil, but not replacing it with the Holy Spirit. The house ends up being infested again, and worse than before. (Luke 11:24-26)
I can tell you one thing though. A handful of smoldering sage ain't gonna do it.
This brings us to Today's Scripture and Name of God. When Jesus walked the earth, He healed the sick, raised the dead, cleansed the lepers, scolded the Pharisees for their religious hypocrisy, preached the Coming Kingdom of God, AND cast out demons. Some problems were caused by demons, but others had been birth defects, microorganisms, politics, germs, viruses, injuries, oppression, etc. Not everything was caused by demons. Jesus was able to discern the cause of the problem and then deal with it appropriately. He was anointed of God to do that.
That's what "Messiah" (Hebrew) or "Christ" (Greek) means.
From the practice of anointing priests and kings with the purest olive oil, this word means the setting apart for a righteous task. A person who has "been anointed" is not "The Anointed One", as declared by Peter. We humans can get a (lower-case) anointing for a position or a task, but ONLY Jesus is "The Christ" or "The Anointed One".
PS: I have been praying for the two women that they will see the Truth. Perhaps you could pray for them too.
Come and Pray For the Peace of Jerusalem, For Our FRiends in Need, For Persecuted Believers, and For Our Beloved Nation.
For whatever is hidden is meant to be disclosed, and whatever is concealed is meant to be brought out into the open. (Mark 4:22)
God Bless America.
Blessings To All Who Visit This Garden of Prayer.
Hallelujah and Amen
ML/LTOS