Nightmares

By Mike Hosey, Elder at Fellowship Church

Since my teen years I have suffered from two recurring nightmares.  Thankfully,  their frequency has diminished considerably over the years.

While the frequency of those moments has waned, their intensity has not. 

Both are frightening, but different.  

The intensity of one of those dreams is fierce enough to ignite in me a spirit of fear and retreat.

In the past, it wasn't uncommon for my wife to awaken me from the throes and cries of that demonic dream out of concern for me.

And demonic it is!  A demon always haunts the dream. Usually, I cannot see it.  I can only hear it or feel its presence. In the few times when I do see it, I can only perceive a human-like form. I can't distinguish facial features or expressions. It's just a black darkness absorbing all light.  And its voice is . . .  well . . . I don't know how to describe it, other than to say that it evokes terror. Every time.

But starting a few years ago, I began to saturate my mind through reading, fasting and prayer with the Word of God. And when the demon would come to my dream, the name of Jesus (because I had put His name in my head and heart) would issue from my trembling mouth. And while it was never instantaneous or easy, the demon would retreat or fade away at that name.

Recently the demon troubled my dream again, and he called for one of my children. My flesh trembled, but my heart did not. I advanced with boldness against the evil in my dream -- not simply because it threatened someone I love, but because I have realized that I am a child of the most powerful Father in the universe (Galatians 4:6-7). And that He has not given me a Spirit of fear, but of power (2 Tim 1:7).  And that I can put on Jesus Christ (Romans 13:14) and refuse the desires of my trembling flesh.  And that the word of Christ can dwell richly in someone as flawed as me (Colossians 3:16) -- even in my dreams.

Enemies Are Outside The Wall

By Mike Hosey, Elder at Fellowship Church

"Some of my favorite moments during my personal bible study occur when I have one of those unmistakable aha! moments. "

Recently, while reading in Proverbs I was hit by the very simple truth of how important self control is to our spiritual, physical, emotional, and psychological health.  Proverbs 25:28 reads, "Like a city whose walls are broken down is a man who lacks self-control (NIV)." 

That Proverb presents such a vivid picture! In the ancient world a city's first line of defense was its wall. A broken wall meant that an enemy army could enter that city unimpeded, destroy its strong men, enslave its citizens and set itself up as the new order!

When we don't exercise self-control, or continually repair it, bolster it, monitor it and tend to it, we run the risk of allowing an enemy into our lives, who can then set up his own order and govern our lives contrary to good health and spirituality.

Once the self-control wall is breached, we become slaves to temptation -- sometimes until almost all the good in our lives has been laid waste.

Proverbs 16:32 says, "Whoever is slow to anger is better than the mighty, and he who rules his spirit than he who takes a city (ESV)."

Notice that truth! He who rules his spirit -- that is he who exercises self-control -- is better than he who takes a city!  If you keep your walls maintained, then the enemy cannot breach them.

This is especially true when we consider that God gave us a spirit of self-control (2 Tim 1:7). In fact Galatians 5:16 says that if we live by the Holy Spirit -- meaning that if we yield to Him -- that we won't yield to sinful desires. And later in verses 22-23 it tells us the fruits of yielding to that Spirit. 

So what was my aha! trigger?  The very last gift, self control, finds itself an integral part of all the others. You simply cannot have true love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, and gentleness without self-control! They all require active choice.

Jesus loves you, but maybe not everyone else does...

From guest Blogger, Mike Hosey, Elder at Fellowship Church.

Several years ago I noticed what at first glance seemed like a rather offensive bumper sticker.  I saw it on the back windshield of some college kid's car as I was driving around Gainesville.  I'm sure he thought it was funny, and in fact, I must admit that I chuckled a little -- even though I found it distasteful.

The bumper sticker said, "Jesus loves you, but everyone else thinks your an A$$&$)@ !"  [Insert the slang term for an inglorious part of the human anatomy]

Luckily, I remembered that lost people act like lost people and was able to set aside my offense.  And I'm glad I did because there was a deep meaning in that offensive bumper sticker. I would have totally missed something profound if I had chosen to remain offended!

What that college kid didn't know was that the bumper sticker he thought was funny, and offensive, and provocative was all of those things in addition to being actually true!

Jesus certainly does love people who are A$$&$)@s !"  In fact, He loves them when no one else will.  And if we are honest with ourselves we all know there are times when the people around us don't have very strong feelings about us.  Well, at least not strong feelings that are positive.

It is in those times that we can turn to Jesus and thank him for loving us -- that is to thank him for being committed to our eternal well being -- at the very time that we deserved it least.  In fact, He loved us when we didn't deserve that love in any measure at all.  And what's more is that He is intent on making you in to a better person who loves others just like He does.

That's his whole plan!  He loves you so  much that He wants to turn you into a new creature who possesses a sinless perfection just like Him.  He wants to make you clean, new, and loving.

So remember, Jesus does love you, even when you're not lovable. Now, go out and commit yourself to others as Jesus did for you.