The Road Test

As I approached the upcoming on-ramp, my car began to sputter, and the engine cut out. Two hours earlier, my car began to sputter slightly while idling. Then, while on my way to do a home visitation for the church I co-pastor, the car began to stall while stopped at an intersection. After praying quietly to myself during the visitation, I decided to cut the visit short in case I had car trouble on the way home as my wife and I had a very important dinner engagement for which I could not be late. And now here I was, stopped cold in the middle of the four-lane highway. As I put on my blinkers, I quickly prayed that I would not be rear-ended as I got out of my vehicle.

Three hours earlier, I just got the news that I was going to be published for the very first time. My book is on the subject of spiritual warfare; how not to give aid and comfort to the enemy by exaggerating his abilities out of fear. I have heard of too many Christians insisting that it was demons keeping them from their appointed destinations by tampering directly with their car engines. Now here I was with a car that had been running perfectly fine before the news, now broken down completely after the news. Coincidence or demonic attack?

I chose to stick to my guns, which I knew to be scripturally accurate, and said out loud as I got out of my car. “Lord, I refuse to give credit to the enemy for my car breaking down!” The test was on. I also prayed to God for help and wisdom to handle the situation.

Immediately, a stranger at a gasoline station by the road where I was came running over and helped me push the car to the side. He left before I could even thank him or offer him a cash reward. I next called AAA and they said they were only 15 minutes away and could tow me to the location of my garage mechanic. I next called up a friend and explained my dilemma, and he agreed to meet me at the auto repair shop. My wife agreed to meet me at our dinner engagement, as my friend rode me home to change. My oldest stepson had left me his car for me to drive to the dinner. I arrived right before dinner was about to be served. God more than answered my prayers. I was reminded:

  • James 1:3-8 ESV – 3 for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. 4 And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing. 5 If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him. 6 But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea that is driven and tossed by the wind. 7 For that person must not suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord; 8 he is a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways.

This was my moment of testing before God. Would I faithfully stick to my guns and proclaim His sovereignty over my life, or would I cower in fear that we have an enemy more powerful than he is actually described as in scripture? Needless to say, I chose the former, as Jesus said:

  • Luke 10:19 ESV – 19 Behold, I have given you authority to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy, and nothing shall hurt you.

If nothing shall hurt us, then how can my travels fall victim to a powerless force?

This was the moment where my careful study of God’s word showed me in real life just how much of a liar the kingdom of darkness is. I am glad to report that I passed the test. I look forward to sharing how insignificant the enemy really is once the book is released to the public. But let it be known, now it has been officially “road tested.”

Why the need for another book on Spiritual Warfare?

I remember it like it was yesterday. I grew up in a main line church but while in college became part of a charismatic college group that met on campus.  A very good friend of mine, part of that group, began to suffer a nervous breakdown and began to battle some suicidal thoughts. He had already begun to receive help from the mental health professionals who were monitoring his situation.  It was not too uncommon for some students away from home the first time to become overwhelmed. We agreed to meet at his dorm room at 3:00 to pray for him.  While there was no indication that he was under spiritual oppression or attack, the reality was that college was just becoming overwhelming for him. 

I arrived late to the prayer meeting as my last class of the day ran over.  I arrived and entered the room and was mortified by what I saw.  There was my friend, lying and shaking on the bed with no one praying for him.  Instead, there was one student praying over the window so that he may not jump out.  Another was praying over the letter opener, that he may not be tempted to stab himself with it.  Another was praying over his belt hanging in the closet that he may not be tempted to hang himself with it.  And still others prancing about the room, shouting into the air, supposedly binding the demon of mental illness. But no one was actually praying for him!  The room was full of unordered chaos!  Quickly I took charge and called others to surround him and lay hands on him. I prayed that the God of all comfort would bring him peace. I wish to say he automatically got better and finished the semester, but he did not. School was just too much.  But he did have a wonderful testimony after this season in his life had passed, as he would later tell me that without the grace of God, he would not have made it.

That scene always befuddled me.  Why did those Christians feel more comfortable praying over inanimate objects and shouting in the air than praying over the one in need?  I realize now that it was a combination of many factors.  First, most of them grew up in Pentecostal and Charismatic churches and were only replicating what they saw countless others doing. Secondly, they had never been taught how to pray for someone in need.  But the main culprit was that their lack of personal time in studying scripture that led them to incorporate ideas that were never taught in scripture but were popular in Christian fiction. 

I saw a Facebook post not too long ago that read “It is not that people are not uneducated, it just that they were educated just enough to believe what they were taught but not educated enough to question what they were taught.” Scripture never supports the idea of doubting but does endorse the need to ask questions.  When Mary the mother of Jesus was first presented with what was about to happen to her while still a virgin, she asks “How can this be …?”

Later we find Jesus in the temple listening and asking questions.  And as a result we read:

  • Luke 2:52 ESV – 52 And Jesus increased in wisdom and in stature and in favor with God and man.

The implication is that when we learn to ask questions, we increase in wisdom.  This book is about the hard questions I have pondered over the years. And like Mary I have asked many times, “How can this be . . .” It took me several decades to learn what I now know today, and I am glad to share those thoughts with you.  But don’t believe what I say just because I say so, learn to ask questions for yourself that you too may grow in your both your knowledge of Scriptures and the Power of God.