PRÉCIS ON DIVINE EMPOWERMENT VS. HUMAN MUNDANITY: IT’S ALL ABOUT COURAGE, COMMITMENT & CONTINUITY

SCRIPTURE. “‘I have strength for all things in Christ Who empowers me’ [I am ready for anything and equal to anything through Him Who infuses inner strength into me; I am self-sufficient in Christ’s sufficiency].” – PHILIPPIANS 4:13, AMPC

KEY TERM: “STRENGTH.” ‘Endunamoó’ [ἐνδυναμόω]: “From the root word, ‘dunamoo’ – to make [supernaturally] powerful, vigorous; as with Samson and Hezekiah; metaphorically or spiritually in the moral sphere; refers to the equipment with the power necessary to the office of the Apostle [or Leader]; Divine enablement for boldness [also, ‘sanctified stubbornness’]; provides for the ability to perform miraculous [signs and wonders].”

QUOTATION. “Until one is committed, there is hesitancy, the chance to draw back, always ineffectiveness.’ Concerning all acts of initiative (and creation), there is one elementary truth, the ignorance of which kills countless ideas and splendid plans: ‘That the moment one definitely commits oneself, then Providence moves too.’ All sorts of things occur to help one that would never otherwise have occurred. A whole stream of events issues from The Decision, raising in one’s favour all manner of unforeseen incidents and meetings and material assistance, which no man could have dreamt would have come his way. I have learned a deep respect for one of Goethe’s couplets [Faust, 1808]: ‘Whatever you can do, or dream you can, begin it. Boldness has genius, power, and magic in it!’” – WILLIAM HUTCHISON MURRAY, The Himalayan Expedition, 1951; edited

COMMENTARY I. “‘It is a good work to succour and help a good minister in trouble.’ The nature of true Christian sympathy is not only to feel concern for our friends in their troubles, but to do what we can to help them. The Apostle was often in bonds, imprisonments, and necessities; but in all, he learned to be content, to bring his mind to his condition, and make the best of it. Pride, unbelief, vain hankering after something we have not got, and fickle disrelish of present things, make men discontented even under favourable circumstances.

‘Let us pray for patient submission and hope when we are abased; for humility and a heavenly mind when exalted.’ It is a special grace to have an equal temper of mind always. And in a low state not to lose our comfort in God, nor distrust His Providence, nor take any wrong course for our own supply. In a prosperous condition not to be proud, or secure, or worldly. This is a harder lesson than the other; for the temptations of fulness and prosperity are more than those of affliction and want. The Apostle had no design to urge them to give more, but to encourage such kindness as will meet a glorious reward hereafter.

‘[Only] through Christ we have grace [and Divine Power] to do what is good.’ And through Him we must expect the reward; and as we have all things by Him, let us do all things for Him, and to His glory.

FOOTNOTE ON TIMIDITY. “‘For God did not give us a spirit of timidity [δειλία, cowardice, reticence or fearfulness],’ but [He has given us a spirit] of power and of love and of sound judgment and personal discipline [abilities that result in a calm, well-balanced mind and self-control].” – 2 TIMOTHY 1:7, AMP

A painfully sharp commentary on this particular weakness in our Churches today is by a man who calls himself, “A Son of Africa,” INNOCENT MASENGO, currently a Lecturer in Language and Communication at Makerere University, Kampala, Uganda (ret. Feb. 21, 2024).

“Cowards tend to be lazy. God detests laziness. Cowards tend to exploit and abuse the weak, God detests exploitation and abuse. God loves the courageous; the ones that are not afraid to stand up for truth and justice amidst persecution or intimidation. Such attributes are taboo to the cowardly. ‘God detests cowards.’

But He loves those that are slow to anger, and those with slow feet for violence. These are the wise. They act after careful thinking, and make the right choice with dignity. It’s easy to confuse wisdom and strategy for cowardice. ‘God loves the courageous.’”

DK. Beloved, as many of you already sense, this is an issue of monumental importance to the American Church of the 21^st century. In point of demonstrable fact we now witness nothing less than an Abomination in the primarily White Evangelical Community, which I shall derisively term:

“The First Church of Tremulous Cowardice.”

Once again, I travel to the landmark study by DR. GEORGE BARNA that revealed incontrovertible evidence for this remarkable tragedy of Christian Cowardice. When American Pastors were asked if they kept up with the news and current events, over 90% said yes. When asked if they often preached on these topics, an opposite percentage said no (7%).

The Reason. “Barna pointed to FIVE FACTORS that most pastors turn to when asked if their church is successful: Attendance; Giving; Number of Programs; Number of Staff; and Square Footage. Now all of those things are good measures, except for one tiny fact: Jesus didn’t die for any of them! What I’m suggesting is [those pastors] won’t probably get involved in politics, because it’s very controversial. ‘Controversy keeps people from being in the seats, controversy keeps people from giving money, from attending programs.’” – JENNIFER LECLAIRE, “Most Pastors Avoid Controversial Issues to Keep Tithes Up,” Charisma News, Aug. 13, 2014; edited

CODA. Do you see it, beloved, that Rottenness that has seduced the American Church for generations? What we see here is nothing more than the vast majority of our Pastors operating as hired hands, business managers or even entertainers rather than stalwart champions for Christ. Again in C.S. LEWIS’ blistering critique in The Abolition of Man (1943), we find “castrated geldings” in positions of influence, unfit for bold leadership.

And, I add, especially dangerous in this Era of Last Things when Deception and Delusion are the very Hallmark of the Age. I find in my own aggressive research for commentary that even Fact Check sources are too often suspect. Indeed, even they are cloistered with a ‘Personal Worldview’ that bends their analyses in a certain direction.

Therefore does ‘Spiritual Discernment’ become a life-or-death matter.

Consequently, beloved, we now witness ‘The Great Falling Away’ in the wake of nation-wide Timidity in our Pulpits. Thus, we have Antichrist left unhindered by the cowards in our midst. Thus indeed, we have what I called in the title of my first book, The Sixth Seal (2017):

“The End of History as We Know It.”

TO WIT: “No one can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or else he will be loyal to the one and despise the other. ‘You cannot serve God and mammon.’” –  JESUS CHRIST, MATTHEW 6:24, NKJV

So may God most profoundly bless and empower His Remnant who dare to stand against the Night!