Letter from Donald Ward, Chairman

Warfare of every sort is being waged on many fronts. The warfare is visible and invisible—physical and spiritual warfare is being waged. Nations small and great are scrambling for all the weapons that they can beg, borrow or steal. The prophet Joel writes: “Proclaim ye this among the Gentiles; prepare war, wake up the mighty men, let all the men of war draw near; let them come up: beat your plowshares into swords, and your pruninghooks into spears: let the weak say, I am strong” (Joel 3:9-10, King James Version). The small impoverished nation of North Korea is a case in point. Chairman Kim Jong-un continues his saber rattling, and world leaders will be forced sooner or later to deal with him.

As we see the world being engulfed by tragedy after tragedy, we must not become inured by all of the terrible events that we see unfolding. As members of the Body of Christ we must not take on the mindset that the apostle Peter warns against—the attitude of the scoffers who say: “Where is the promise of His coming? For since the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as they were from the beginning of creation” (2 Peter 3:4). Peter exhorts us not to take on a Laodicean attitude of being lukewarm and apathetic. But to stir up our minds and be mindful of the things that the prophets, apostles and our Lord Jesus Christ have spoken concerning the end of this age (2 Peter 3:1-4).

We need to carefully read and consider the spiritual weapons of our warfare—especially the shield of faith. If we have on the shield of faith we will know, and know that we know, that God will deliver us from all the fiery darts of Satan.

Are you a scoffer? Are you saying the Lord delays His coming? You respond, “No way am I saying that!” You may not be uttering the words, “My Lord delays His coming,” but your actions maybe be shouting those words loud and clear in the sight of God. We are admonished to be zealous and on fire for God’s way. The apostle Paul writes: “Now the just shall live by faith: but if any man draw back, my soul shall have no pleasure in him” (Hebrews 10:38, KJV, emphasis added).

These are not normal times—this is not the time to bury our head in the sand and view the world with rose-colored glasses. Note the words of the apostle James: “Ye adulterers and adulteresses, know ye not that the friendship of the world is enmity with God? Whosoever therefore will be a friend of the world is the enemy of God” (James 4:4, KJV). John, the apostle of love, writes: “Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him” (1 John 2:15, KJV). Those are powerful words, and we should read and take heed.

Does this mean that we are supposed to close our eyes and hearts to the needs of our fellow man? No. In no way are James and John saying that we should shut up our bowels of compassion and turn a blind eye to the cries of those in distress. But it is to say that we should not get caught up in the things of this world as summarized by the “lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes and the pride of life” (1 John 2:16).

Neither should we come to believe that good works would result in people being convicted and converted. Jesus warns that “many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? And in your name have cast out devils? And in thy name done many wonderful works? And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity” (Matthew 7:22-23, KJV).

When it comes to spiritual conviction there are two convicting agents, the Word of God and the Spirit of God. Jesus states in John 6:63: “The words I speak they are spirit, and they are life.” So we see that the Spirit of God and the Word of God are equated. The apostle Paul writes, “For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart” (Hebrews 4:12, KJV). He instructed the young evangelist Timothy to stir up the gift of the Holy Spirit and do the work of an evangelist. He instructs Timothy to “preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine. For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears” (2 Timothy 4:2-3, KJV). We should all be motivated and stirred by the inspired words of Scripture so that our lamps are always filled with oil.

In the first paragraph, I mentioned various forms of warfare that are being waged throughout the world. Great spiritual, cultural and philosophical warfare is being waged between those who embrace traditional values and those who believe that all forms of behavior should be tolerated. The so-called liberal progressives have embraced several forms of behavior and lifestyles that are sinful according to God’s Word. Most media sources are propagating and defending the liberal agenda while condemning those who defend the plain words of God.

As I recently wrote in an article that was published in United News, God is looking for men and women to stand in the gap. He is looking for men and women of conviction, commitment and courage. Jesus states that “because lawlessness abounds, the love of many will grow cold” (Matthew 24:12). In practical terms this means that peer pressure will be so great that people will go along with the crowd rather than become a social outcast. The time will come that those who stand in the gap with God and Christ will be hated by all nations (Matthew 24:13). It will take great spiritual courage to stand for God’s way in the days that lie ahead.

The greatest warfare of all is spiritual warfare. Are you ready to wage spiritual warfare? Are you filled with spiritual courage? To the degree that you are convicted and committed, you will respond courageously. The apostle Paul writes: “Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might. Put on the whole armour of God that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places” (Ephesians 6:10-12, KJV).

We need to carefully read and consider the spiritual weapons of our warfare—especially the shield of faith. If we have on the shield of faith we will know, and know that we know, that God will deliver us from all the fiery darts of Satan. He is faithful who has promised that He will never leave us or forsake us (Hebrews 13:5).

In the coming year Satan and his minions will continue in their evil, deceitful plot to capture your heart and mind so that you will be caught up in the things of this world. We are clearly told that, “he walks about as a roaring lion seeking whom he may devour” (1 Peter 5:8). Will you be a victim, or will you put on the whole armor of God and stand strong being completely protected by that armor—living by faith?

Under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit the apostle Paul writes: “Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us. For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord” (Romans 8:37-39, KJV).      

In view of all these things, put on the whole armor of God and fight the good fight of faith. For if God be for you who can be against you (Romans 8:31)? I believe God has called you to the Kingdom for such a time as this.