January 21, 2023, in Monterey Park, California, in an incident of evil took the lives of several and injured many others.
The following Monday, 7 more were killed in Half Moon Bay, California, as an “apparent” workplace vendetta.
Also on Monday, in Oakland, California, in another incident, one person lost his life while seven others were injured.
Today are reports of a drive by shooting in Florida which injured at least 10 person; a couple of which were in serious condition.
The News Agencies are reporting that a total of at least 40 mass shootings have taken place in the U.S. so far in January.
There are some valid conclusions that some of these seem to have unusual timing and political involvements for distractions from other hot button issues. It has seemed to me over the years leading up to the 2016 elections and after, that there have been seasons when politics are running high temperatures in the public arena that suddenly there’s a rash of violent crimes against humanity, charges against police brutality, and mass shootings taking many lives, causing fear and trauma. While that may be true in some incidences, the underlying reality is the overwhelming evil influence over minds blinded from things God. In the fallen nature, sinful man is prone to be receptive to the mind influencing evil one, Satan himself.
“But even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing, 4 whose minds the god of this age has blinded, who do not believe, lest the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, Who is the image of God, should shine on them.” (2 Corinthians 4:3-4)
Our problems lie in society, including most Christians, being quick to lay the blame for evil and greedy behavior on individuals or groups of human beings. Satan gained authority (dominion) over creation from Adam at his fall. Whatever authority, dominion, control, he holds or gains is permitted by man through his free will to choose good or bad; right or wrong! The evil one brings confusion into our world. We are so confused by him we see no other enemy but other men and women. And if we are so distracted that we only ever battle one another, we lose!
The devil is assaulting gender, marriage, family and children in these days at an alarming rate. Through abortion, and the multi-faceted indoctrination of sexual perversions upon our children at alarmingly young ages, Satan has us sacrificing our children on his altar of worship because we who should know better do nothing!
“For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places.” (Ephesians 6:12)
“Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour.” (I Peter 5:8 NKJV)
“Be sober [well balanced and self-disciplined], be alert and cautious at all times. That enemy of yours, the devil, prowls around like a roaring lion [fiercely hungry], seeking someone to devour.” (I Peter 5:8 Amplified Bible)
[“Prowls” = Stalks, lurks, lies in wait, creeps around, hangs about]
Either he, or his subordinate demons, is everywhere seeking to take advantage of God’s man. If he can blind them from the Gospel keeping them apart from God, he’s won. If they somehow by the grace of God find salvation, he attempts to keep them in the baby Christian stage; weak and powerless. Weak Christians are epidemic in American churches. Many pulpits are filled with weak or illegitimate pastors. Many churches are little more than showroom houses of prayer. Only God has the right to call any church a house of prayer because He knows the criteria that He set, plus this self-referral is a pit of pride and arrogance. Even still, we must strive to meet that standing with God, as He has said, “My house shall be called the house of prayer.” (Matthew 21:13)
Most Christians today either do not understand their authority in Christ, or they justify their lack of genuine prayer and stand against the principalities and powers by stating, “God’s in control,” or both. And therefore, they have not because they ask not!
Beloved, God’s purposes are going to win. His ultimate plan is never going to be hindered. But understand this, the Victor Christ Jesus has made the way open for us to be able to do the things He has done and more, and yet we are being deceived to think we cannot. Beloved, Stand up, stand up for Jesus! Pray On!
