Post by Fr. Barry Stephenson on Jan 25, 2017 23:16:30 GMT -5
"Do you still pray father?...if so...you might want to pray a little longer for our safety because we are now at war with the leader named Nelson and his group. Someone from his group had rushed in and killed a couple of people. Just....shot them...in they're heads without a care in the world, right in broad day light. Sarah wants his whole group dead. I would be lying if I said I wasn't Afraid Barry. I am very much afraid of what is to come in the later hours or even days. So get everyone in our group ready for combat."
"Yes I do, Masumi," Pastor Stephenson said, his words exuding calmness in the midst of the chaos around them. "Every morning when I get up I thank the Man above for giving me another day on this earth, and every night before I go to sleep I thank Him for letting me have that day....and yes, I do pray for the safety and success of those here; I would be remiss as a man of the cloth if I didn't.
"In times like this, I often think about the words of the Apostle Paul in Ephesians Six, verses eleven to seventeen when he said to the early Church in Ephesus, 'Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil's schemes. 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. Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.' Now, when Paul said those words, he was referring to the spiritual battles all of us face in this life, but I also believe it applies to the fight ahead.
"From what you've said, Masumi, we face an evil coming towards us and I too fear for our lives, each and every one of us here at San Simeon...but I also know that we will get through this," reaching over to put a comforting hand on Masumi's shoulder. "We....will....survive, and we.....will.....win; I know we will win," pausing as mind searched for another verse of Scripture. "As Jesus said in the Gospel of Luke, 'Behold, I give unto you power to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy: and nothing shall by any means hurt you.' The serpents and scorpions are coming, that is true.....but I have faith that we will crush them underfoot.
"Now, let us begin preparing for battle," Pastor Stephenson said, pausing to respectfully nod at Masumi before stepping out of the room and going outside to begin getting everyone ready for the battle to come...
"Yes I do, Masumi," Pastor Stephenson said, his words exuding calmness in the midst of the chaos around them. "Every morning when I get up I thank the Man above for giving me another day on this earth, and every night before I go to sleep I thank Him for letting me have that day....and yes, I do pray for the safety and success of those here; I would be remiss as a man of the cloth if I didn't.
"In times like this, I often think about the words of the Apostle Paul in Ephesians Six, verses eleven to seventeen when he said to the early Church in Ephesus, 'Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil's schemes. 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. Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.' Now, when Paul said those words, he was referring to the spiritual battles all of us face in this life, but I also believe it applies to the fight ahead.
"From what you've said, Masumi, we face an evil coming towards us and I too fear for our lives, each and every one of us here at San Simeon...but I also know that we will get through this," reaching over to put a comforting hand on Masumi's shoulder. "We....will....survive, and we.....will.....win; I know we will win," pausing as mind searched for another verse of Scripture. "As Jesus said in the Gospel of Luke, 'Behold, I give unto you power to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy: and nothing shall by any means hurt you.' The serpents and scorpions are coming, that is true.....but I have faith that we will crush them underfoot.
"Now, let us begin preparing for battle," Pastor Stephenson said, pausing to respectfully nod at Masumi before stepping out of the room and going outside to begin getting everyone ready for the battle to come...