Satan

IS POTUS DEMON-POSSESSED?

Tom Ratkovich, , , , , , , , , , , , , 1 Comment

Readers of this blog will know that I have prayed for Donald Trump’s salvation, and that he finds obedience to God’s will as prescribed in Scripture. I have, moreover, rendered myself incapable of casting judgment on his soul, noting that this is the purview of the Lord alone. Instead, I have endeavored to remain critical only of his malicious behavior. And I have speculated that the infatuation by his MAGA apologists is, in fact, a blinding by God – and a test for each of us of our own fidelity to the Lord. Only God knows if such speculation is valid.

But evidence is mounting that POTUS is not simply an unashamed and unrepentant sinner. Let’s be honest…we are long past the diagnosis of classic narcissism.  His relentless evil, hate, greed and self-exaltation can no longer simply be attributed to a debilitating mental disease. It seems far more probable that Trump is under a demonic influence.

In fact, it is quite likely, America, that the nation’s nuclear codes are controlled by a demon-possessed egomaniac.

I do not make this assertion lightly. I am exceedingly concerned that such a claim made with or without merit is one that the Lord will judge harshly. Consequently, I have prayed passionately for His guidance before putting it into the blogosphere.

The answer I receive repeatedly is this: “Speak, Tom. Donald Trump serves My purpose in testing those who claim obedience. Be strong in belief and use this time of tribulation to affirm My word. Illuminate hypocrisy and pray that those who look to Trump rather than Me to appease their fears will return to faith.”

I can do nothing myself, but I am blessed that the Lord may use me to illustrate His word and bring back the wayward.

Consider the behavioral parallels between POTUS and the characteristics attributed to malevolent spiritual forces described in the Bible:

  • Sowing Division and Discord: Satan seeks to separate man from God. He does so largely by separating man from man. It logically follows that Satan’s henchmen seek to do the same. Trump’s rhetoric, his tone and his lies are designed to foster division and hostility. What makes this especially demonic is his ambition to divide the CHURCH.
  • Deception and Falsehood: In verse 8:44 in the Gospel of John, Jesus calls the devil “the father of lies.” Scripture frequently associates deception with demonic inspiration. Trump’s lies are so self-serving, so pervasive and, to most, so blatantly false that he is assuredly under the influence of Satan – as, perhaps, are those who believe and perpetuate them.
  • Self-Exaltation: Biblical figures under malevolent influence frequently display persistent self-worship and a hopeless inability to accept responsibility for failure. Needless to say, POTUS’ unceasing boasts regarding his mental acuity, his physical fitness and declaration of unique capability (“I alone can fix it”) – despite all evidence to the contrary – provide testimony to such influence, as does his persistent propensity to shift blame for his poor decisions and outcomes. Most telling, Trump has exalted himself in social media to the status of God, a comparison only a servant of Satan would make.
  • Erratic and Volatile Speech: His verbal rants and middle-of-the-night social media posts excoriating anyone who does not bend the knee are not reflective of a man in control of his senses. That control apparently belongs to the evil one.
  • Mercilessness and Impenitence: Perhaps it is not entirely accurate to suggest POTUS is without mercy. After all, he has pardoned many who violently attacked our nation’s Capitol, who fund his campaign of retribution, and contribute to his personal and familial wealth. But God teaches us to extend mercy to our enemies. Trump’s behavior is the antithesis of such instruction as he seeks vengeance against all who defy him. And, like Satan, he repents of nothing.

“For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.” Ephesians 6:12 (NIV)

The great danger to our society, to our world, and to our church – is that we become so enamored with political power that placates our fears that we fail to recognize the evil associated with it. The Lord has equipped us for this struggle. He has graciously given us His word.

Of course, Scripture does not give us license to look into another person’s soul and pronounce a spiritual diagnosis, as barefaced as such judgment may seem. Could it be that what we are witnessing is simply the catastrophic consequence of unchecked pride, narcissism, greed, hatred and the corrupting influence of power?

I think not. I would argue that the evil perpetrated by the current administration is seeded by demonic influence. But Satan does not need to possess Donald Trump to accomplish destruction. He needs only to persuade millions of people who call themselves Christians to excuse lies, celebrate cruelty, embrace vengeance, worship power and place political loyalty above obedience to Christ.

That is where the real spiritual danger lies.

See also: TRUMP

Endurance & Perseverance: Running the Race for Eternity

Tom Ratkovich, , , , , , , , , , , , 1 Comment

“…one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead, I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.”

Philippians 3:13-14 (NKJV)

The upward call of God in Christ Jesus. The resurrection. The prize of eternity with the Lord.

It is the only prize that matters. As with any prize, there is a path to victory. To Christians, that path is sometimes referred to as The Way…as in:

“I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.”

John 14:6

And while The Way has 66 books of the Bible devoted to its amplification, an exceedingly abridged account of the path incorporates:

  1. Acknowledgement of our sin: “For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:23)
  2. Recognition that we deserve death: “For the wages of sin is death.” (Romans 6:23)
  3. The understanding that Jesus died as a propitiation for our sins and was resurrected: “But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.” (Romans 5:8)
  4. Faith: “For by grace you have been saved, through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God, not a result of works, that no one should boast.” (Ephesians 2:8-9)
  5. Living our faith by being obedient to His word: “Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says.” (James 1:22)

How to Run

The Bible makes several analogies of our journey in The Way as a race. The Apostle Paul instructs us as to how this race is to be run:

“…I press on, that I may lay hold of that for which Christ Jesus has also laid hold of me.”

Philippians 3:12b

In other words, we run by “pressing on.” We do not relent. We do not lose focus. We run with perseverance.

As the author of Hebrews exhorts us:

“…let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us,”

Hebrews 12:1

Although we may be mature in our beliefs, we must recognize that Satan is ever-present. He is always seeking to make the race more difficult by throwing up obstacles – those things we see as temptations or distractions. It is why we must run with endurance and perseverance – and be confident that as we tire or become confused, the Holy Spirit will give us a course-correction.

Preparing to Run

Competition and fitness were central features of the Roman and Greek cultures in which Paul was immersed during his four missionary journeys. Athletic success required preparation. Training and diet were fundamental elements of that preparation.

Perhaps this is what Paul had in mind when he wrote in chapter 4 of his first letter to Timothy that good ministry requires that one be “nourished in the words of faith and of the good doctrine” while exhorting him to “exercise yourself toward godliness.”

Despite the fact that Paul knew Jesus better than anyone else, he continued to hunger for ever-greater, ever-deeper knowledge of Christ. Nourishment in God’s word strengthens the relationship one has with Him. A greater knowledge of God leads to a greater love of Him.

Of course, most of us know of someone with a shallow or insincere love of Christ. Most likely, that reveals a shallow knowledge of Him. Running the race with endurance and perseverance requires that we nourish ourselves properly with “words of faith and good doctrine.”

It also necessitates “exercise towards godliness.” Becoming increasingly godly is foundational to the race itself. We do so by consuming a steady diet of God’s word and exercising love and discipline in our obedience to it. Preparation becomes part of the race itself.

Winning

“Do you not know that those who run in a race all run, but one receives the prize? Run in such a way that you may obtain it. And everyone who competes for the prize is temperate in all things. Now they do it to obtain a perishable crown, but we for an imperishable crown. Therefore I run thus: not with uncertainty. Thus I fight: not as one who beats the air. But I discipline my body and bring it into subjection, lest, when I have preached to others, I myself should become disqualified.”

I Corinthians 9:24-27

In the athletic competitions of ancient Greece, there was but one winner. Thankfully, that is not the case in this race. Jesus died on the cross so that each and every one of us can win our race. We are not racing against others – but we are racing against the world.

A key component of our individual race is the exhortation of our brethren to train with us, and run with endurance and perseverance. For as Jesus said to His disciples just prior to ascension,

“Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you.”

Matthew 28:19-20

And we are to run, as instructed by Paul in I Corinthians 9, with the certainty of victory. We are to exercise discipline to run through our inadequacies. And we are to be obedient to the rules of the race.

The Finish Line

While sitting in a Roman jail – knowing that his execution was but days away – Paul wrote to Timothy:

“I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.”

2 Timothy 4:7

Death on earth is indeed the end of the race. But for those that have run with endurance and perseverance, and finish with faith and obedience, it is the beginning of a resurrected eternity with the Lord. It is the prize for which we press on, the reward for finishing well.

Paul knew the resurrection to be fact – he was, after all, face to face with Jesus on the Damascus Road. He knew that Jesus had defeated death. That gave Paul his ultimate goal – and his reason to press on.

Perhaps we have not been face-to-face with Christ in the same way. But Christians have felt the presence and the direction of the Holy Spirit in our lives – giving us the same confidence Paul had. Confidence in Christ. Confidence in the resurrection. And with confidence comes hope. With confidence comes joy. With confidence comes peace.

In fact, Paul’s confidence was such that he could see death as gain:

“For to me, to live is Christ, and to die is gain.”

Philippians 1:21

How about each of us? Do we fear death – or do we see death as necessary to win the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus?

If we have run the race the right way, death is not to be feared; rather it is to be viewed as gain. For as C.S. Lewis so wisely wrote:

“Nothing that has not died will be resurrected.”

Navigating the Deception of Trump-Love: Insights on God’s Sovereignty and the Works of Darkness

Tom Ratkovich, , , , 3 Comments

“Walk as children of light (for the fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness, righteousness, and truth), finding out what is acceptable to the Lord. And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather expose them.”

Ephesians 5:8(b)-11 (NKJV)

More often than not, the posture of our neighbors seems to defy reason. Built in to our human nature is an expectation that others should see the world as we do. It seems a rare occasion that they do so.

Continue reading “Navigating the Deception of Trump-Love: Insights on God’s Sovereignty and the Works of Darkness” →