(I went on to highlight the March for life and my view that the 800+ million unborn children slaughtered globally since the 1970's -- and mounting up at a million more per WEEK -- is the mother cancer that is spreading metastases of perversion, corruption, abuse and deception all across our civilisation, here. Thus, this issue . . . the live, in progress worst holocaust in history . . . is a pivotal focus of our spiritual call to prophetically challenge the nations, calling to repentance, remission of sins and discipleship through the gospel, thus to reformation and God blessed transformation.)
So, too, we now need to ask some pointed spiritual questions.
First, Lance in a periscope shared on Jan 23rd:
Next, let us refresh memories on the seven mountains vision he has championed. Here, as I have adapted it to the fullness of Christ theme and the four R's of reformation:
In discipleship foundations form:
And yet again, in generic, commanding heights of culture business (yes, SIN) as usual vs the godly, sound alternative form:
For, if the devil's minions are hitting that close to him, there is a reason.
So, too, let us read Acts 19, to see how the demonised mob created chaos to try to attack Paul -- and, notice how the disciples and the Town Clerk responded:
Acts 19:21 Now after these events [the seven sons of Sceva put to flight by a demoniac, etc] Paul resolved in the Spirit to pass through Macedonia and Achaia and go to Jerusalem, saying, “After I have been there, I must also see Rome.” 22 And having sent into Macedonia two of his helpers, Timothy and Erastus, he himself stayed in Asia for a while.
23 About that time there arose no little disturbance concerning the Way. 24 For a man named Demetrius, a silversmith, who made silver shrines of Artemis, brought no little business to the craftsmen. 25 These he gathered together, with the workmen in similar trades, and said,
“Men, you know that from this business we have our wealth. 26 And you see and hear that not only in Ephesus but in almost all of Asia this Paul has persuaded and turned away a great many people, saying that gods made with hands are not gods. 27 And there is danger not only that this trade of ours may come into disrepute but also that the temple of the great goddess Artemis may be counted as nothing, and that she may even be deposed from her magnificence, she whom all Asia and the world worship.”
28 When they heard this they were enraged and were crying out, “Great is Artemis of the Ephesians!” 29 So the city was filled with the confusion, and they rushed together into the theater, dragging with them Gaius and Aristarchus, Macedonians who were Paul's companions in travel. 30 But when Paul wished to go in among the crowd, the disciples would not let him.
31 And even some of the Asiarchs,[e] who were friends of his, sent to him and were urging him not to venture into the theater. 32 Now some cried out one thing, some another, for the assembly was in confusion, and most of them did not know why they had come together. 33 Some of the crowd prompted Alexander, whom the Jews had put forward. And Alexander, motioning with his hand, wanted to make a defense to the crowd. 34 But when they recognized that he was a Jew, for about two hours they all cried out with one voice, “Great is Artemis of the Ephesians!”
35 And when the town clerk had quieted the crowd, he said, “Men of Ephesus, who is there who does not know that the city of the Ephesians is temple keeper of the great Artemis, and of the sacred stone that fell from the sky?[f] 36 Seeing then that these things cannot be denied, you ought to be quiet and do nothing rash. 37 For you have brought these men here who are neither sacrilegious nor blasphemers of our goddess. 38 If therefore Demetrius and the craftsmen with him have a complaint against anyone, the courts are open, and there are proconsuls. Let them bring charges against one another.
39 But if you seek anything further,[g] it shall be settled in the regular assembly. 40 For we really are in danger of being charged with rioting today, since there is no cause that we can give to justify this commotion.”
41 And when he had said these things, he dismissed the assembly. [ESV]Mobs, chaos, falsity, accusation [especially materially false accusation], busineses that seek gain from promoting rebellion against God [and demand to be respected as though they were legitimate -- then going out to stir up trouble . . . ], confusion, frenzy, riot are hallmarks of disorder; but our God is the God of sound order and sound authority, truth and right. So, through this contrast the spirits at work are manifest. Where, if you needed more evidence (and pardon language etc) here is Pam Geller's reporter-- yes, I do not endorse her beyond here documenting facts on the ground -- trying to interact with marchers from the Women's march the next day.
Please pardon truly vile language (yet another sign of the animating spirits):
This pattern brings things to a focus, the seven mountains challenge. That is, the fullness of Christ theme as strategic focus for the church in these last days:
Eph 1:16 I do not cease to give thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers, 17 that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and of revelation in the knowledge of him, 18 having the eyes of your hearts enlightened, that you may know what is the hope to which he has called you, what are the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints, 19 and what is the immeasurable greatness of his power toward us who believe, according to the working of his great might 20 that he worked in Christ when he raised him from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly places, 21 far above all rule and authority and power and dominion, and above every name that is named, not only in this age but also in the one to come.
22 And he put all things under his feet and gave him as head over all things to the church, 23 which is his body, the fullness of him who fills [everything in every way] . . . .
Eph 4: . . . 10 He who descended is the one who also ascended far above all the heavens, that he might fill all things.)
11 And he gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the shepherds[c] and teachers,[d] 12 to equip the saints for the work of ministry for building up the body of Christ, 13 until we all attain to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to mature manhood,[e] to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ, 14 so that we may no longer be children, tossed to and fro by the waves and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by human cunning, by craftiness in deceitful schemes.
15 Rather, speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ, 16 from whom the whole body, joined and held together by every joint with which it is equipped, when each part is working properly, makes the body grow so that it builds itself up in love.
17 Now this I say and testify in the Lord, that you must no longer walk as the Gentiles do, in the futility of their minds.
18 They are darkened in their understanding, alienated from the life of God because of the ignorance that is in them, due to their hardness of heart. 19 They have become callous and have given themselves up to sensuality, greedy to practice every kind of impurity.
20 But that is not the way you learned Christ!— 21 assuming that you have heard about him and were taught in him, as the truth is in Jesus, 22 to put off your old self,[f] which belongs to your former manner of life and is corrupt through deceitful desires, 23 and to be renewed in the spirit of your minds, 24 and to put on the new self, created after the likeness of God in true righteousness and holiness. [ESV, 1:23 uses NIV rendering instead of "all in all" also in Eph 4:12 the comma that may be misunderstood is removed.]
Let us ponder even more food for thought. END
