Lateral Ministries: Following Jesus Beside You

Deuteronomy 33:27 says, “The eternal God is your dwelling place, and underneath are the everlasting arms. And he thrust out the enemy before you and said, ‘Destroy’” (ESV). The International Children’s Bible words it this way: “The everlasting God is your place of safety. His arms will hold you up forever. He will force your enemy out ahead of you. He will say, ‘Destroy the enemy!’” These are comforting words to spiritual warriors. King Jesus has defeated the enemy and exposed him to open shame. He has triumphed over death, freeing us from it. Nothing and no one can defeat our King! Not even the church’s failures can keep Jesus from accomplishing all the aims of His reign. He will return and judge the whole world. We’re free to fight fearlessly. We will be victorious in the end. But we can delay the victory. The church has a mission to fulfill, and no Bible passage states it so completely and succinctly as Matthew 28:19–20:  Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing...

2 Corinthians 10:1–6 is a super important New Testament passage in which the apostle Paul teaches about spiritual warfare, especially its ultimate aim. I, Paul, myself entreat you, by the meekness and gentleness of Christ—I who am humble when face to face with you, but bold toward you when I am away!—I beg of you that when I am present I may not have to show boldness with such confidence as I count on showing against some who suspect us of walking according to the flesh. For though we walk in the flesh, we are not waging war according to the flesh. For the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh but have divine power to destroy strongholds. We destroy arguments and every lofty opinion raised against the knowledge of God, and take every thought captive to obey Christ, being ready to punish every disobedience, when your obedience is complete. (ESV) The Holy Spirit teaches us four truths in this great text: 1. Spiritual warfare is "not according to the flesh," which means it...

Union Army General William Tecumseh Sherman is credited as originating the phrase, “War is hell.” Considering what he unleashed on even civilian southerners in the American Civil War, slave and free alike, I suppose he would know. From what I can tell, war certainly is a hellish affair. Glory in battle is possible even in the worst of circumstances. I believe disrespecting sacrificial war heroes is deplorably dishonorable. But war is mostly inglorious, ugly, mean, immoral, and unfair. The people hurt the worst by it are almost always the innocents, including children. Warmongers ought to be reminded of the words of Christ, “All who live by the sword will die by the sword.” In the Year of Our Lord 2024, there are concerning wars in Eastern Europe and the Middle East, and widespread concern that more wars, possibly even World War III, or even nuclear war, could break out at any time. Let’s pray it does not (1 Tim. 2:1–2). The globe has been wrapped up in the so-called Culture War for dec...

The concept of fasting and the principles that guide it are introduced in the Old Testament. From the beginning until now, the basic definition of fasting has remained: refraining from some or all foods and, sometimes, for very limited durations, refraining from drinks as well. Jesus made it clear He expects His followers to fast (Matthew, 9:15; Mark 2:20; Luke 5:35). His example is our inspiration, but remember He was likely miraculously sustained through His 40-day fast in the wilderness, which was to fulfill prophetic types from the Old Testament that confirmed His Messiahship. No biblical author suggests His 40-day fast is normative or that any other figure in the New Testament ever voluntarily fasted for that long. Fasting for that long can cause major damage to your health or even death. No one should ever fast from drinking water for more than a couple of days at a time, if at all. The body cannot survive a total fast from water for much longer than three days. Fasting from othe...

I have a really simple history with drugs and alcohol. There’s nothing complicated about it. I was 11 1/2 when I first started seeking to fit in with the wrong crowd, and 12 or 13 the first time I ever used a mind-altering substance, and I absolutely loved it.  That was not good.  I spent the decade that followed crippled and enslaved to substance abuse. It hurt me, and I hurt people I loved during those dark years. Above all, I was being disobedient and disrespectful to the Lord, whom I knew better than almost any of my peers did (though I didn’t know Him as well as I thought I did). But graciously, He had mercy on me. He spared my life, and though I had several serious run-ins with the law, He also providentially spared me any serious charges or long-term incarceration.  At age 21, I made the first of several major steps towards a serious commitment to the Lord, and things got progressively better from there, though it was a longer road than I imagined it would be. Deca...

What’s in a name? In short, the answer is “a lot.” Our misguided friends among the so-called Jehovah’s Witnesses (JWs) emphasize the covenant name of God, YHWH (Yahweh, or Jehovah), above all other descriptors of God’s people. I’m going to expose three problems with this.  First, if the JWs were accurately bearing witness to the truth of YHWH’s Scripture, I wouldn’t have as much of a problem with the name they use. As things stand, however, it’s problematic. All true Christians are faithful witnesses to Jehovah because we teach His word in truth. They don’t, so, sadly, they’re taking His name in vain (Exodus 20:7).  Second, there is a name Scripture teaches Jesus’ disciples to wear, and it’s His. This doesn’t forbid our wearing His Father’s name or any other of the several biblical descriptors of His people, but the primary name affirmed by Scripture by which Jesus’ disciples came to be known is “Christian.” Luke recorded in Acts, “And in Antioch the disciples were first calle...

The Jehovah’s Witnesses (JWs) started as independent “Bible Students” groups influenced by the teachings of Charles Russell, that the “time of harvest” had come, and the end of this world was near. His teachings were given the name “Russellism” by his detractors. In 1881, he founded “Zion's Watch Tower Tract Society,” to disseminate tracts, papers, doctrinal treatises, and Bibles. In 1886, its name was changed to “Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society.” After Russell’s death, his followers formed several groups, the largest being The Watchtower Society, under the leadership of “Judge” Rutherford. They adopted the name “Jehovah’s Witnesses” in 1931. The JWs are a pseudo-Christian cult. The organization is led by the leaders of the Watchtower Bible & Tract Society, headquartered in Brooklyn, NY. The organization claims to be the “‘faithful & discreet slave’ class whom Jesus has ‘appointed over His belongings.’” This comes from a misinterpretation of Matthew 24:45–47, which I wi...