Lion like Times
April Newsletter
Jess Parker TDS Ministries
Some of you may recall an article in Newsweek Magazine several years ago about a tragic event that took place on a bridge in Detroit, Michigan. A terrified woman jumped off the bridge to escape the man who was beating her. The incident resulted from road rage. The woman had merely driven her car in a way that displeased the man and he flew into a rage, jumped out of his car and attacked her. She plunged to her death to escape. It was made even more tragic because there were witnesses who did nothing to stop the man.
Why? They were gripped with fear.
We are living in the last days. The defining characteristics of this age as described in Scripture are violence and fear. The Apostle Paul wrote to his young protégé Timothy describing the horror of the last days just before the return of Christ. (2 Tim. 3:1). In order to grasp the full implications of his statement I have quoted several translations
“But know this: There will be perilous times in the last days” (KJV) “violent times” (God’s Word)
“terribletimes” NIV
“grievous times” WEB
Strong’s Conc. translates the Greek word Chalepos; difficult, dangerous, furious, fierce, perilous.
Vincent’sWord Study translates Chalepos; savage, brutal, merciless
Many Bible scholars have attempted to communicate the full meaning of this word, but the one I believe best expresses the condition of the last days employs the term “lion like times.”
It will be a time where danger lurks around every corner. A time so terrifying it will be like trying to traverse a jungle while evading a hungry lion. This road rage is just a sign of the times and it is all round us. The content of the music of today; violence, murder, gang rape, mass killings, torture, you name it, reflects the spiritual climate of our times. Anger and violence will continue to escalate as the spirit of this age grows stronger.
A Christian Brother came to me several years ago. He wanted deliverance prayer to cast out a demon of murder. I was only mildly surprised but I ask him what made him think he had a demon of murder. He shared with me a chilling tale of being run off the road by another driver. When he regained control of his truck and got back on the road, he chased the man down. He pulled up beside him, rolled down his window and stuck a shotgun out the window with the intention of killing him. The other driver slammed on his brakes and my friend came to his senses. He called me for help. This was a man who had set beside me in church for several years, yet he came under the influence of the spirit of the age we live in.
Another Christian friend came to me with a similar experience. He had taken his son to a rifle range to let him practice with a newly purchased rifle. After he and his son had each fired several rounds of ammunition, he sent the young man to get the target and bring it back for them to examine. As his son walked toward the target, he got the overwhelming urge to shoot him. The thought was so overpowering, he practically ran to the truck to put the rifle away, for fear he would actually do it.
That was not the end of the story. The following Sunday as he sat listening to the pastor speak, he started fantasizing of shooting him and watching him bleed to death, while the congregation looked on in horror. When he came to his senses, he was shocked that he had entertained such a thought. He came to me and we cast out sprits of anger, violence and murder.
What is my point in relating these stories about Christians struggling with the spirit of this age just as the unconverted? Just this;
We as Christians are not granted diplomatic immunity from demonic attacks. No! We are told we must not take for granted the power of the enemy.
2 Peter 5:8 warns us,
“Be self-controlled and alert. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. Resist him.”
James 4:7 says,
“Resist the devil and he will flee from you.”
Had not these two men confessed and resisted these demonic inspired thoughts, we might have read an account of one of them in the newspaper having killing someone.
What must you and I do to avoid being a casualty of these last days? First we must resolve to fight the enemy. The vast majority of God’s people believe the best way to survive is to not bother the enemy and hope he doesn’t notice them. They’re kidding themselves. It’s his job to notice them. He may have already found a place in them and is just waiting for the right opportunity to cause them to lose control and become tomorrow’s headlines.
The second thing we must do is take inventory to find out what is in our house, (Matt.12:43) and then do some housecleaning. If you struggle with angry murderous thoughts; if you experience road rage; if you have trouble controlling your temper; if you explode with angry outbursts, you better deal with it now or the spirit of the age may overcome you and make you its next casualty.
TDS Ministries will be conducting a two day seminar on Tearing Down Strongholds of Anger on May 14-15, 2010, at The Church of Glad Tidings in Yuba City, CA. Maybe you or someone you know struggles with;
- Outbursts of Anger
- Murderous Thoughts
- Seething Hatred
If so, please take advantage of this opportunity to destroy this stronghold before the Spirit of the Age finds an opportunity to destroy you. If you cannot come to the seminar, I would encourage you to get the five CD series from the seminar as soon as it becomes available.
We are offering the teaching on anger as the free download of the month. Please take advantage of this free offer with no strings attached. If at some point in the future you decide to support a ministry that is effective in Kingdom business, consider making a contribution to TDS Ministries.
Put on the full armor of God
A Fellow Warrior
Jess
