Five ballades with a prologue
(after W.E.G. Louw)
Prologue: The child of God
From the creation,
long before the time of Plato and Aristotle
the word of God was the child’s criterion
while he ruled over everything.
When darkness rose right across the earth
others came in rebellion
wanted to show the God of creation
that they do not regard Him
and did not want to believe him
that destruction will follow upon their deeds,
that rain will fall in a terrible flood
that flooding will come as a result
from the hand of the God of the universe.
The child constructed a ship
went into its shelter with his wife,
children and animals
believing that the hand of the Almighty God
was sheltering
while the others in destruction
begged and cried for mercy.
The child walked through the palace of Pharaoh
could not convert his mother Hatshepsut
to the Almighty God,
saw whips lashing on the backs of his brothers
wanted to stop the lashing
on of one of them.
Right through the sea the child led his people
with crushing water closing on Pharaoh’s army,
right through the desert
his eyes were set on the Promised Land
while he trusted God.
When God Himself came to this earth,
taught people about love,
the child followed Him,
he baptised people and converted them
until on a Friday
on which the curtain ripped right through,
with God innocently hanging on a cross
while evil people mocked, cursed
and scolded Him in arbitrariness
when He was paying for the destiny of man,
was triumphant against the snake.
Peter, Paul, Thomas, John and other apostles
witnessed about Jesus,
went to the Jews and the wide world,
talking with crowds of strange people
about the life of Jesus,
standing before kings and princes
and some of them were persecuted,
tortured and mocked
and other children of God
were thrown to lions in arenas,
for some death was their destiny
and the soldiers of Rome
was deployed against them.
Still the child of God spread
the testimony of Jesus
to bring others to salvation,
to reconcile them with God
just where he could, he canvassed people
going through the world
as the champion of God
until the dark time of the Middle Ages came,
with the church and state being one
and it was persecuting him
and still the light of God was in him
while soldiers of Papal Rome was pursuing him
and the child did escape to the new world,
flowered there
settling in America
and on the Southern tip of Africa
and he lived as if in the hand of God
with the blessing coming from Him.
I. Another gospel: Communism
Deceitful, cruel and focused on himself
man doomed millions to their death,
believing that the perfect man
in due time would by evolution
come into existence.
While the end justified the means,
nobody was safe against its onslaught.
The false doctrine
wanted to strip those that have,
of their possessions
with the goal of giving everything to everybody,
but some got everything and others nothing.
While the end justified the means,
nobody was safe against its onslaught.
Armed forces, revolution and terrorism
spread almost right across the world,
nuclear weapons were set against each other
to try and bind man at all costs to the state.
While the end justified the means,
nobody was safe against its onslaught.
In Hungary people wanted to be free
and died for freedom,
until the Berlin wall fell
and things started to change in the USSR.
While the end justified the means,
nobody was safe against its onslaught.
But in China, Cuba and on other places
the fortress still stands strong
where the state controls everything
even what you believe, how you live your life.
While the end justified the means
nobody is safe against its onslaught.
II. Quick treachery
In the dark there were being tinkered
while lies were being told to the whole wide world
while in Washington, Peking, Moscow,
London and even Tel Aviv
deliberations were done secretly.
Who is earning dollars,
while bombs are falling like rain,
with guns that are shooting almost endlessly?
In the dark plans were being hatched
and in Afghanistan and Iraq allegedly
soldiers were looking for weapons of mass destruction
while seizing oil reserves.
Who is earning dollars,
while bombs are falling like rain,
with guns that are shooting almost endlessly?
Innocent men, women and children were killed
and foreign soldiers invaded their country
to allegedly bring peace
and treasures were seized.
Who is earning dollars,
while bombs are falling like rain,
with guns that are shooting almost endlessly?
III. Focus on the common man
It is said that every game
have got two sides
and so the bones of fortune
or the dice is thrown
where one wins and the other looses.
In this way people live while they deceive each other,
have relationships with each other’s wives
and tell lies and more lies.
Envious they look at each other’s property,
are competing for a job, to make a living
while people tread on one another
walking into the gambling house, the whorehouse.
In this way people live while they deceive each other,
have relationships with each other’s wives
and tell lies and more lies.
The fellow man that you have got to help,
is starving on the street, is despised
while he looses his wife, his children, his car and job
and everyone is only focusing on the self.
In this way people live while they deceive each other,
have relationships with each other’s wives
and tell lies and more lies.
IV. Another new gospel: Theosophy
That occultism is the new in thing,
slowly but surely
is usurping Christianity as part of it,
anyone will hardly believe.
That man is a god, part of God and again reincarnates,
is becoming slowly but surely a new confession.
Jesus Christ is expelled as creator,
sacrifice of atonement, God
and saviour and another God
is written into His name,
the creator is doomed as Satan
and the snake is exalted
as the eternal light bearer.
That man is a god, part of God and again reincarnates,
is becoming slowly but surely a new confession.
Call it new age teachings, Gnosticism, Cabalism
the teachings of Alice A. Bailey (channeling Djwal Khul) ,
Helena Petrovna Blavatsky and Annie Besant
with human rights as a basis,
is supplanting the commandments of God.
That man is a god, part of God and again reincarnates,
is becoming slowly but surely a new confession.
Even in some protestant churches
séances are being held
and spiritualism is sneaking in slowly but surely
where man is looking for signs and wonders.
That man is a god, part of God and again reincarnates,
is becoming slowly but surely a new confession.
People are seen as complex, with a lower and higher nature
where the mind, spirit and soul is polluted by the body,
is cleansed when it returns to the divine
and purification takes place by reincarnation.
That man is a god, part of God and again reincarnates,
is becoming slowly but surely a new confession.
V. Focus on Southern Africa
We think that the murders on farmers,
the hijackings, robberies and rape
is the consequence of lawlessness
but what if it becomes legal by legislation?
By the natural law as set out by Thomas Aquinas
in his Summa Theologiae that affirms Fascism,
or is it only ethnic hatred that is coming to the fore?
This says that possessions like farms,
houses, cars and even tools
are seen as only in title the owners property
but that the community have the right to the use of it
above the owner and may take it by force.
By the natural law as set out by Thomas Aquinas
in his Summa Theologiae is affirmed in Fascism,
or is it only ethnic hatred that is coming to the fore?
[References: Sewe Ballades met ‘n Proloog (Seven ballades with a prologue) by W.E.G. Louw. “Goods of some are due to others by the natural law. There is no sin if the poor take the goods of their neighbours. In cases of need, all things are common property, for the need has made it common. Not only is such taking of another’s property not a sin, it is not even crime. It is lawful for a man to succour his own need by means of another’s property by taking either openly or secretly, nor is this properly speaking, theft or robbery. It is not theft, properly speaking to take secretly and use another’s property in a case of extreme need, because that which he takes for the support of his own life becomes his own property by reason of that need. In a case of a like need a man may also take secretly another’s property to succour his neighbour’s need.” Summa Theologiae ii-ii 7th Article by Thomas Aquinas. “There is one type of fear more devastating in its impact than any other: the systematic fear that arises when a state begins to collapse. Ethnic hatred is the result of the terror that arises when legitimate authority disintegrates.” Michael Ignatieff: Blood and Belonging – Croatia and Serbia.]
poem by Gert Strydom
Submitted by Poetry Lover
Vote! | Copy!
Related quotes
(Childhood poems) The soul of the world
The child is
the soul of the world
On the continued good life
of the infant lies
The salvation of the world
The well cared for child is
the safe haven of the universe
On life's continued survival
Hangs the crucial safe
upbringing of the unmolested child
The child is the Heaven of the earth
the baby cannot grow up to be
The man or the woman who wins
despite the obstacles where
The world is polluted by tribal
chauvinism and ethnic madness
And the stockpiling of the weapons
of mass destruction and the flourishing
Of mercenary bandits and killer squads
The child is the rock of our spiritual
happiness and our mental health
Make the world safe for the child
and you will see the earth grow
And love and prosper better and faster
poem by Ngaka Motaung
Submitted by Poetry Lover
Vote! | Copy!
Why This World Exists (In Answer To Louis Esterhuizen)
From the moment that I could think
I was wondering why this world does exist,
man is born in a place
where everything goes to destruction and decay?
What kind of God creates a place
where there is pain, suffering and hardship
where catastrophe at times hit mercilessly
as if every thing is going into damnation and darkness?
Some faiths believe that man
reincarnates over and over,
to in the end become part of a god,
have got to live though this desolation time and again.
Only the Christian faith declares
why our world is in this state,
about a almighty God who comes, to take up man’s guilt
with a salvation plan and how its going to end.
If you read the holy Bible carefully,
it’s clear that Lucifer was created perfectly,
that out of his own will he wanted to be equal to God,
he wanted to stop worshipping God.
When he broke the law
he created the biggest crisis in the universe
persuading other angels to act in rebellion,
where Michael (who is like God)
and his angels defended the heaven.
At that moment God could have wiped out Lucifer
and his followers instantaneously
but then everyone would serve Him out of fear and not out of love
and his Godly character did not even consider that possibility
whereupon He made a plan to solve this problem eternally.
God exists from eternity and is without a beginning,
through Jesus Christ, God created the world, by His own hands formed man
in the image of God and blew into him the breath of life,
He created man as two sexes, as man and woman.
Man was instructed to multiply,
to bring forth a own life in his image, to bring forth children,
to rule over the earth, the animals, birds and fishes
and everything was perfect in the whole earth, in every single thing.
It was then that God started the thing called time,
determining a period of time in which sin has got to abate,
where man as ruler had to lie down laws,
had to eat from the fruit of the earth,
proving to the universe that God is only love,
that dominion demands just laws,
going to the meaning
that the creation came from love.
No angels have ever been ordered to multiply
or to reign, Satan wanted to rule,
wanted to receive worship and become a god,
used his opportunity to lead man into darkness
saying in deception as he still does, that man will get knowledge
will become like God and will not die
and man had then lost his glory
(so as if the master of darkness could bring light)
and in free will man chose,
where his choice had an impact on everything,
even cursing his descendants to a damned world
but God came to place Himself in man’s place
and many people believe that I am only telling a myth here,
but my almighty Lord Jesus Christ lives.
poem by Gert Strydom
Submitted by Poetry Lover
Vote! | Copy!
Property O My Property
property o my property
i use to be a man fine and witty
no cares in the world full of terimity
untill the heavens fell off my dad was murdered
and i was stranded with his property
property o my property
three flats into one, office, home and land what fun
rentals 6% home appreciation by 10%
money in black some in white
o my friends try and understand my plight
property o my property
some say it's worth 50 crs some say it's less
i use to be a free bird before
god knows how i landed up in this mess
brokers, dalla's, buyers and sellers
i have two houses still i am a lonely dweller
property o my property
what the hell to do with you
buy or sell take or give
now my life is not a life but a hell in which i live
property my property
o my dad's property
property o property o my dad's property
my well wishers say i cannot be trusted
to handle all this and i sure will be busted
so my friends you see my situation is dire
it's time like this that i feel i am walking on fire
property o property my dad's property
poem by Anuj Tikku
Submitted by Poetry Lover
Vote! | Copy!
These Bombs
German soldiers at my backyard,
Russian soldiers at my backyard,
American soldiers at my backyard,
The world's soldiers at my backyard,
And like cultures at different places;
But, history is all about life.
What is your name? !
'My name is St. Louis';
What is your mission?
'My mission is to see to the peace in this world';
What is your vision?
'My vision is to conquer the world with love'!
'One head, two eyes, two ears';
'One nose, two legs, two hands';
'And, to tell the people what the future will be like'.
Soon a bomb will blast omewhere! !
Soom many people will be killed;
And like the cultures of these people around me,
For, they are always after destruction than peace.
To others, sex is like a chewing gum to them;
To others, wars are like a laughter to them;
And now, this world is preparing for war and we are running out of time!
But tell me, which of you have no past in this world?
However, some of you are still working hand-in-hand with Satan the Devil.
These bombs are falling on us today,
These bombs are killing us today,
And hatred is leading mankind to destruction!
Because, some people are really working hand-in-hand with Satan the Devil.
poem by Edward Kofi Louis
Submitted by Poetry Lover
Vote! | Copy!
Do You Believe In: Jesus Christ Or The Cosmic Christ?
Easter is a time where we celebrate
the crucifixion of Jesus Christ
who is God Himself who died for our sins,
where we celebrate His resurrection
from death, where we proclaim
that through no other name,
no other person, there is salvation
from the penalty of sin
which the Bible explicitly states as death,
but at this very time there is an attack
on the Godhood of Jesus Christ,
where Afrikaans and English churches
in South Africa, churches throughout
the entire world,
are starting to follow the teachings
that Jesus was but a mere human being.
Where it is argued that God the Father
is guilty of child abuse,
in sending His Son to pay the penalty
for our sins instead of letting us
pay the price for them,
where Jesus Christ who is God Himself,
came down to this earth
to sacrifice His own life for us.
Further it is argued that Jesus Christ
was not resurrected from the grave,
that His body was eaten by dogs,
and that His disciples and apostles
lied about Him appearing to them,
it is argued that Jesus Christ
did not ascend to His Father in heaven
and some of the things
clearly stated in the holy Bible
is being seen as only myth
and thus men are saying
that Jesus Christ was only a man.
This poem is no attack on any church,
but as a follower of Jesus Christ
I see it as my duty
to proclaim Him and a relationship
with Him as the only way to salvation.
Behind the scenes Jesus Christ
who is God and who is
the Son of God, is being debased
to only a son of the gods
and slowly but surely lowered
to the position of only a prophet,
while ecumenism is spreading
to take hands, to find
a universal compatible christ
for all religions world wide
(by uniting Christian
and non-Christian religions)
and the way is opened
for the cosmic christ to appear,
who his believers clearly state
to be another person from Jesus Christ.
According to the Holy Bible
there are only two forces
interacting in this world
and the one is from God
and the other is from Satan
and as a believer
in the holy Bible only
as the word of God,
I choose to follow Jesus Christ
and God leaves a free choice
for whomever you decide to believe in.
poem by Gert Strydom
Submitted by Poetry Lover
Vote! | Copy!
Universal World
I hate to say that I haven't found one universal world that doesn't have Any criwes or war
But I feel that everybody wants the piece of the action even when it comes to war
When you are inthe war you are killing people
And all the people died like flies
But the truth was that God made the universal world so that people can
Live in that
But what do we do to the universal word?
We destroy it with bombs and bullets from guns
And sometimes we evenkill the innocent children of the universal World
And let me as you all a thing?
How can you sleep at night knowing that in the war you killed that innocent child that belonged to the universal world
And the parents of that innocent child prays to God for mercy
And they grieve for thir son who died in this brutal war
I speak against war
And I know now it is the time to come together and united the world
Lets choose peace and not war
poem by Aldo Kraas
Submitted by Poetry Lover
Vote! | Copy!
There are people
There are people
that claims the street as their own
and stand
at parking places on the sidewalk
and do no work
but to look after cars.
If you park there
and ignore them
and do not
want to use their services
you immediately
become a racist in their eyes
and they will make a scene,
threaten to damage your car,
or make sure that it’s stolen
or so they tell you
since they believe
that you owe them something.
Some spray soapy water
without invitation
on the front window
of your car
when you stop
at a traffic light
and wipe it off
demanding a price.
I wonder why the education
is still lacking
since they have already
got their liberation
and just as odd
these people are ignored
by their compatriots in government
as if they do not exist,
while the country
falls slowly
but surely to pieces.
There are people
that claims the possessions
of others as their own
and at night
prowl around in the streets
shooting, stabbing
and robbing
and estranging people
from their cars.
l’Envoi
Still I wonder where
the problem lies
and would really like
both of my cars back
and I do not know
about white people
that sneak around
in black neighbourhoods at night,
hijack cars,
brake windows
and demand possessions
with loaded guns.
All that they do,
is try to make a living
or hurry away in their leaving.
{Reference: “First liberation, then education.” Political slogan of the ruling party.]
poem by Gert Strydom
Submitted by Poetry Lover
Vote! | Copy!
A War Raging On
There's a war raging on
Though I know not where
There are people fighting
Though they do not care
Soldiers are fighting
Mothers are crying
Fathers are preaching
For their sons are dying,
For their is a war killing
And no one really cares.
There's bullets shooting
As I see the guns loading
And there's planes flying
For I feel the bombs exploding,
I see war and I see blood
And death upon the sand
There's hunger and death
I still see in His hand,
For there's people killing
As I see the blood flowing.
There's soldiers marching
For I hear them coming
The killing is flowing
For I see the children running,
There are people being shot
Poets getting caught
Murderers being sought
Lessons again being taught,
For there is a war raging
As the soldiers are hunting.
There is a war coming
For I hear the horns blowing
There is more killing coming
For I see the hate growing,
Children are getting killed
Burying bombs in the fields
Land is being destroyed
Mountains are becoming hills,
For there is a war coming
For I see the hate showing.
Randy L. McClave
poem by Randy McClave
Submitted by Poetry Lover
Vote! | Copy!
Reconciling All The World
He had come in the fullness of time, the little baby pure and sublime,
Sent to this earth by The Father’s will, to be born in the land of Israel,
He was the promised Anointed One, God’s one and only Eternal Son,
And before this baby even came, Joseph was given the child’s name,
Mary’s child, Spirit conceived within, would save His people from sin.
So that child was named Jesus, and Immanuel, meaning God with us.
Generations will call Mary blessed; as He was the Son of the Highest,
Spoken by the prophets of old, this child, nations would now behold,
A prophet was sent to Israel to tell, God will be with them in Immanuel,
That message today, is better for us, when we believe in Christ Jesus.
Not only does He forgive us of our sin, but, Christ will also live within,
God with all believers, will reside, through Christ’s Spirit, living inside,
In the heart of mortal men of dust, when in The Lord, we put our trust,
Sealed by His Spirit when we believe, then Eternal Life we will receive,
As God makes us eternally whole, inside the heart of a believing soul.
Christ came not just for one nation, but to be all the world’s salvation,
First to Israel, Christ Jesus was sent, with John’s message, to repent,
But, his message was ignored, rejecting Jesus, as Messiah and Lord,
Now, reconciling all the world today, is The Christ, Israel turned away,
However, according to Zechariah, Israel shall accept Him as Messiah.
Then together we’ll believe as one, at the return of God’s Eternal Son.
When every single eye shall see, Believers reigning together eternally,
All the spiritual children of Abraham, blessed people from every land,
All coming together, in Jesus Christ, receiving from God, Eternal Life,
When this entire world is restored, under the Messiah, Christ our Lord.
(Copyright ©01/2010)
The DREAM
I went to bed the other night
And woke up with a terrible fright
I dreamed I saw Christ the Lord
And I helped nail Him to the board
Pain and agony in his eye
And me a wishing He would only die
For what kind of GOD could he be
If He even couldn't set himself free.
The hours for Christ went slowly on by
Jesus surely must wish to die,
Some people began to laugh and some to cry
This man named Christ must surely wish to die.
Then lightning shown and thunder was heard
Christ began to speak a word
My body my blood I just have gave
So your souls they all could be saved
Some people quietened and some began to cry
For our salvation Jesus Christ must die,
But now there emotions they must hide
For Jesus Christ had just then died.
The years for me went slowly on by
And I was on my death bed awaiting to die.
Then death it came into my house
It crept so quietly in just like a mouse,
Then I awoke in a terrible sweat
I dreamed GOD Almighty I just had met
He said you didn't accept Christ my Son as your salvation
So in HELL you shall burn in damnation
I began to shiver and to shake
I didn't want to burn in Hell's fiery lake
So I wrote this dream into a song
So in salvation you couldn't go wrong.
Randy L. McClave
poem by Randy McClave
Submitted by Poetry Lover
Vote! | Copy!
Lord, You Have Got My Country In Your Hand
I
Lord, you have got my country in your hand,
have broken my whole world that’s around me,
stripped it, the precipice is everywhere
and have also taken my whole career.
Like the apostle Paul I stand in your light,
are blinded, try to get some direction,
but am smitten down upon this old earth
with a kind of pain that cuts right through me
still sight is being revealed to me
and where I pray, fall humble at your feet
you know everything, keep protecting me
as the great ruler of the universe.
Sometimes it feels like a life sentence,
but now I really know the true meaning.
II
But now I really know the true meaning
of being your child, your adopted son,
in the night around me, I know no fear
when everything suddenly is worthless
and destiny firmly, definitely
takes my property, wife and her children,
with my life broken as if it cannot heal
my country rejects me as if I am missing
but I had to come to a turn around,
while I still see your bright light shining,
that life sometimes brings a kind of poverty
had to become my own dim reality,
I had to wander in the black darkness,
I had to learn to only hold your hand.
III
I had to learn to only hold your hand,
how long do I have to beg for mercy,
do I have to trust you only blindly,
when real demons reach with their hands to me?
As a human stand against this rebellion,
when my own world is declining with me,
it feels as if darkness folds all over me,
not if Michael is conquering at all.
The onslaught shows that I am straight on target,
that my poems make the enemy vulnerable,
I have to know from the sheer fierceness
that you do win, I am touching crisis points
but teach me to trust childlike upon you,
without my poor faith in you abating.
IV
Without my poor faith in you abating
when I take the road leading to salvation,
let me then hold onto your mighty hand,
even if great evil is around me,
even if I am picking a thorny cane,
even if time passes far too quickly,
it feels I am taking an endless road
but I will get true salvation from you
where all my life is braided together,
trapped in a nest of quite painful thorns,
it is you that decide over my lot,
each day I learn a new kind of lesson,
things get right very slowly, bit by bit
when you free me, when you show me the way.
V
When you free me, when you show me the way
when the night is dark, radiates nothing,
it looks as if I am deteriorating,
when the small golden moon wanders away
your pure light will still fall upon me
where my life is like a bright small flower,
with destiny thundering in destruction,
I become somewhat dead and even dumb,
do not know how to get out of it all,
will you then still be leading me further
to where the sun rises, is bright again,
past my own fear and all of my conceit,
do you still stay with me, when I am down,
in the wet road with lamps in a dim row?
VI
In the wet road with lamps in a dim row
the faint light reflects from the falling rain,
tonight it is where I get purity,
stand washed somewhat clean and pure
against the pattering, falling water
in which there is a great kind of healing,
you understand me and are washing me,
are bringing sincerity, forgiveness
while my deceit washes away from me,
with neon lights surrounded by great fog
I am freed by dropp for dropp that falls down
as if in the storm I find purification,
you again bring me back to conversion,
in no exposure, hero veneration.
VII
In no exposure, hero veneration
praise that the angel of darkness brings,
can I sing his lustre or of his works.
Only to you, God, I am giving glory.
To you I aim my gifts, so insignificant
as a kind of love, as appreciation
as you are protecting this wanderer,
make deep words sprout from me that circle out.
Almighty Lord, I want to sing a psalm
about your love that is self-sacrificing
where you are still ruling everywhere,
about you as a living parable
that reaches with truth through all the darkness,
Lord, you have got my country in your hand.
poem by Gert Strydom
Submitted by Poetry Lover
Vote! | Copy!
Where people live in the concrete jungle
Where people live in the concrete jungle
with apartments as their property
and no one knows of grass or flowers
or any natural life source
lorries drive the whole time with ton upon ton
of rocks and sand to construction sites that amazes.
Where people live in the concrete jungle
with apartments as their property
they see nothing of nature from their balconies
while just more and more arrives in the city,
disguised from the essence of existence,
with only the charm of the rays of the sun,
where people live in the concrete jungle.
poem by Gert Strydom
Submitted by Poetry Lover
Vote! | Copy!
Jesus Power over Demons
Jesus' Power Over Demons
home » sermons » 06-24-07
June 24,2007 — The Fourth Sunday after Pentecost
“Jesus' Power Over Demons” — Pastor Lassman
Luke 8: 26-39
Listen
My Fellow Redeemed in Christ,
Do you believe in a real Satan? Do you believe that there are demons? I’m sure you do, but if you don’t you should. Of course, such things might seem strange in our scientific and technical world and many people don’t believe in Satan or evil spirits. And, being spirits, we cannot see Satan or demons. But the Bible talks a great deal about them. I’ve never seen Satan or a demon, but I believe in them not only because the Bible talks about them, but especially because Jesus Christ himself speaks about Satan and demons. In the church we often talk about sin and death, and rightly so. But we should never forget about Satan and his evil forces. For they go together: Satan, sin, and death as Martin Luther says in his Small Catechism about Jesus: “who has redeemed me a lost a condemned person, purchased and won me from all sin, from death….and from the power of the devil.” The power of the devil. That brings us to our gospel lesson where we see “Jesus’ Power Over Demons.”
I. In Jesus Christ the kingdom of God has come to attack and destroy the kingdom of Satan. When he began his public ministry at his baptism Jesus said: “repent, for the kingdom of God is at hand.”.
A. God, of course, had created a perfect world. This included what we would call the “good angels.” But some of those angels, led by their leader, Satan, were not happy with their position in God’s order: they wanted to be God. And in their evil rebellion against God they were transformed into demons who oppose God and all that he stands for. It was their leader, Satan, who showed up as a snake in the Garden of Eden to tempt Adam and Eve to also be like God. And so sin and death came into the world. Satan had invaded God’s world and trashed it. Demons are the source of the world’s superstitions and religions. Demons are the ones behind those who persecute and kill Christians. Demons are the ones behind all the false doctrines that divide the Christian church. With deception and lies they do all in their power to keep people from believing in Jesus Christ and to destroy the faith of those who already believe. Thus the Bible calls the devil our “enemy”. There is an underlying evil in the world that human beings are helpless to overcome. The demon possessed man in our text symbolizes all of this. But remember that every human being is born into this world under the influence of Satan and a member of his kingdom as the apostle John says in his first letter: ”the whole world is under the control of the Evil one.” When you and I were born in the world, we too were under the control of the evil one—enslaved to sin and death, under God’s wrath and damnation. Never forget that.
B. And that’s why Jesus came into the world: to attack and destroy the kingdom of Satan and save his people. He trashed the kingdom of Satan, defeating him and giving mankind victory over sin and death. You can hear the fear in the evil spirit’s voice: “what have you to do with me, Jesus, Son of the most high God.” They are filled with terror because they know that Jesus is stronger than they are. They are afraid of Jesus: “I beg you do not torment me.” They know that on the judgment day Jesus Christ will cast them into the fires of hell as we read in revelation: “and the devil..was thrown into the lake of burning sulpher, where the beast and the false prophet had been thrown. They will be tormented day and night.” And so the spirits begged Jesus not to send them “into the abyss.” The demon was afraid that that day had come. But it had not. So Jesus told them to leave the man and enter the pigs. And they had no choice but to do what he said. Now in our gospel Jesus only delivered one man from demon possession. But on the cross he delivered all of humanity, you and me, from Satan and his forces by dying for our sins. Because of Jesus Christ we never have to fear being possessed by a demon—for our bodies are the temple of God. Because of Jesus Christ we can resist the devil and his temptations—for in baptism we have been united to Jesus Christ. Because of Jesus Christ the devil cannot scare us with death or damnation—for all our sins are forgiven and we will be raised from the dead. Because of Jesus Christ the devil cannot deceive us with his lies because we know the truth. Paul says it all when he writes in Colossians: “for he has rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of the Son he loves, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.” (Col.1: 13) you and I have been rescued from Satan and his kingdom—he has no power over us.
II. But as always there are two responses to Jesus.
A. Regardless of the evidence, some people just won’t believe. We see this in our text. There were eyewitnesses to what had happened—the herdsmen who tended the pigs. And they went and told the city and the whole country-side what they had seen. Indeed, they created such a stir that many people went out to the spot where it happened to see for themselves. And there was Jesus- and the man sitting at his feet. And they saw with their own eyes the difference in him. He was no longer naked, but clothed; no longer out of his mind and violent, but calm and in his right mind. He was normal. Clearly, something profound and wonderful had happened. And now comes the strange response: “then all the people of the surrounding country…asked him to depart from them, for they were seized with fear.” What? ! Why did they say that? ! Couldn’t they see that Jesus had done something good, something kind, something merciful, something wonderful? Why did they ask him to leave? Did they care more about the pigs that were destroyed than they did for the well-being of this man? We are not told. But all through the gospels we hear of people who do not believe in Jesus even though they saw him doing miracles and wonderful acts of kindness. Perhaps we get a clue when just fourteen verses before our text Jesus says: “[these] are the ones who hear, and then the devil comes and takes away the words from their hearts so that they may not believe and be saved.” Many people prefer the kingdom of Satan. They like the darkness more than the light
B. But that wasn’t the response of the man from whom the demons left! He believed and was thankful for what Jesus had done for him. As a matter of fact, he was so grateful that he begged Jesus to go with him. But here’s another little surprise- Jesus said “no”. Instead he told him to return to his home and tell everyone what God had done for him. And that’s exactly what he did: he went home and told everyone what Jesus had done for him. I imagine that took a lot of faith. His emotions told him he wanted to be with Jesus. But he denied his emotions and instead did what Jesus told him to do. And so it is with us. We too are thankful for what Jesus has done for us. Every Sunday through the forgiveness of sins he gives us victory over sin and death and the power of Satan and the forces of evil. Such is the power of god’s forgiveness. We love coming here on Sunday mornings and being with Jesus and receiving his salvation. And yet as important as it is, we cannot sit in church all the time. Jesus wants us to return to our homes, our work, our schools—our communities and tell everyone what he has done.
Conclusion: when Jesus drove the demons out of that man Jesus attacked the kingdom of Satan. But when he died for the sins of the world Jesus destroyed Satan’s kingdom. And through faith in him we share in his victory. For Satan’s only weapons are lies, sin, and death. But in Jesus Christ we know the truth; in Jesus Christ our sin has been forgiven, and in Jesus Christ death has been defeated and we have life. Satan has no power over us. Indeed, we can resist him. And how do we know this is true? Well, we see Jesus casting out helpless demons who fear him and must obey him. But the main proof is the empty tomb. When Jesus was raised from the dead God’s hand was raised in victory over Satan and his kingdom. Everywhere the gospel of Jesus Christ is preached and taught the kingdom of Satan is trashed. And one day Jesus will return and cast Satan and all demons into the abyss that they fear so much. Amen!
Messiah Lutheran Church Seattle - Missouri Synod
7050 35th Avenue NE | Seattle, WA 98115 | (206) 524-0024
Questions or comments about this site can be sent to [email protected]
Copyright © 2008. Messiah Lutheran Church. All rights reserved.
poem by Mthokozisi Ntokozo Maphumulo
Submitted by Poetry Lover
Vote! | Copy!
God, is this the world you have created?
1-The minds full of lust
The minds full of lies
2-The world full of darkness
The world full of dirts
3-The world full of people like you like me
Using beautiful words when we need
4-The world full of injustice
Both in West and East
5-The world full of women who have lost their purity
For earning property
6-The world full of hate
In each time, in each date
7-So many racism, so many contempt
So many people who always pretend
8-GOD,
Is this the world you created
9-GOD,
I am sick and tired of living
there haven't been anything interesting
for me on your earth
poem by Nader Baheri
Submitted by Poetry Lover
Vote! | Copy!
Notes About The Situation In Our Country
(in answer to Johan Steyn)
I. In the times that we live
In the times that we live
darkness sometimes gets the upper hand,
with tragic things happing in this country
while we still strive for a better place
we go into a life
where innocence is missing and we are off guard
stripped from opportunities and halfway beached
where we have to live in the bustle
where people are killed, tortured and robbed,
where the ruling party is singing inciting songs,
where we cannot decide on a plan of action
and even being humane is curtailed
while the harsh reality penetrates
that alone we cannot stop the overwhelming enemies.
II. During the night we hide in yards that are wired with electricity
During the night we hide in yards that are wired with electricity,
behind walls and steel palisades,
taking notice of the neighbourhood,
making daily adjustments to our lives
and when car hijackers strike at us on the road
we pray and hope to survive,
we let them just go on
while we are dumfounded by fear
and some of our family members and friends are tortured to death,
are raped and robbed while the police cannot stop these crimes,
but we encourage each other and tell one another
that every thing is all right and things are totally out of control,
but Satanists behead people
and there are criminals walk away from raping children.
III. People of our friends and family with qualifications are without work
People of our friends and family with qualifications are without work,
while it is now almost impossible to find something,
with jobs being restricted to black people by affirmative action
and so time passes, years pass
while impoverishment sneak in among white people,
with people begging and looking after cars on the street,
with hundreds of uneducated people getting jobs
and somewhere everything honourable
has been lost with time
while misfortune and decline is appearing everywhere,
we hear about the wretched lives of others,
people come with a confession
that life has caught them off guard,
with their existence only hanging on a thin thread.
IV. When we laugh it only hides bitterness
When we laugh it only hides bitterness
the blue sky, flowers in our gardens pass us,
we hear of some more Afrikaners dying on farms
and in towns and slowly but certainly the destruction spreads.
Out of despair husbands kill their whole families and themselves
(shot after shot resounds)
from them who still have firearms,
after the new laws.
The black government is afraid, that we will resist them
and arrests people left, right and centre
who they see as terrorists
and hold them forever and a day
while the planters of bombs
sit blessed in parliament.
V. There are some people that lay their hands on liquor
There are some people that lay their hands on liquor
and live as if everything is just for today,
they fornicate with the wives of others,
trampling their own people into the ground,
walk over each other to get somewhere in life
or to chase after money
and we live in times of great darkness
where love for the fellow man, awe and respect are missing
where children bear false witness against their parents,
(when they themselves do criminal deeds) ,
turning against their own culture, people and even religion,
using drugs, are fornicating while at school
and overnight our world has changed
to a place where crime and darkness has the upper hand.
VI. Even God is on sale
Even God is on sale
and people jump up and down in churches,
trying to feel the presence of God
in a experience religion
where everyone places his own things in the trolley
as it fits him,
grouping around somewhat in darkness
forgetting to consult the Holy Bible,
Jesus Christ is declared to be only human
and a relationship with him
by some is seen as absurdity
that only people with superstition do
and some wants to trample Satan himself under their shoes
while he is walking free next to them.
VII. Now we wonder from where this decay comes?
Now we wonder form where this decay comes,
while our world suddenly is turned upside down?
With the new government the school structure has been changed,
the cane has disappeared from the classroom, respect has walked out
and religion, the trust in an almighty God,
an own culture, the urge to follow own values,
to speak our own language and to retain a own identity
and the commandments of God has been systematically substituted
by human rights, children’s rights and the following
of a science where humans through theosophy
and new age doctrines are seen as equal to God
where man becomes a god in himself
and now suddenly we see darkness
when the darkness and decay is everywhere.
VIII. We cannot exist in darkness
We cannot exist in darkness,
we have the witness of our fathers, from a time when escape was impossible,
where God in a covenant Himself stood with them
and still everyone is protected by the mighty hand of God,
He draws His laager around everyone that fears Him,
who faithfully keep to the words of His holy word
and still we have got to be brave
in this time where we witness the destruction of our brothers
as God Himself stays true,
His kingdom cannot waver or crumble,
even when the thickest darkness folds around us,
nothing can wheedle us away
from the salvation that God is going to bring,
even if it looks as if darkness is stretching wider and wider.
[Reference: Kanttekeninge by ‘n vers van Brecht (Marginal notes at a verse of Brecht) by Johan Steyn.]
poem by Gert Strydom
Submitted by Poetry Lover
Vote! | Copy!
People recognize intellectual property the same way they recognize real estate. People understand what property is. But it's a new kind of property, and so the understanding uses new control surfaces. It uses a new way of defining the property.
quote by Michael Nesmith
Submitted by Lucian Velea
Vote! | Copy!
The last day
The last day you see the sun is not an illusion,
It's really your last day.
Most people do not even know about their last day,
But you know it.
This day you will die.
Most people do not know about their death,
But you know it.
So many people walk around with a meaningless life
And many people use religion as a mean of quieting their fear of death.
The Lord had mercy on you,
The Lord has told you what is good.
Once you had no identity,
Now you are God's child.
God has mercy on whomever he chooses.
He chose you this way.
Many people are sinners
And many people die without getting past this point.
The Bible clearly teaches that all people have sinned - except Jesus.
Jesus Christ died on the cross for sinners.
You can also believe in being baptized to show obedience,
To take upon you the name of Christ
And to become a member of His Church.
You can go to Heaven
Pure as a white lily.
You still can go to Heaven.
Try to understand what happened to you.
Try to understand your own reasons for doing what you did
And the reason why the Son of God took a human form.
Christ loved you and gave himself as a sacrifice to take away your sins.
'Turn away from your sins and live.'
For you have been called to live in freedom,
Don't choose the freedom to satisfy your sinful nature,
But the freedom to serve one another in love.
It is your last day
Don't be blind this day.
Don't eat anything.
Give your meal to others.
It's a day of prayers
As Christchurch mourns its dead.
Choose the eternal life.
(Dedicated to the people, who wait in prison to die.)
poem by Marieta Maglas
Submitted by Poetry Lover
Vote! | Copy!
Prayer against Waywardness and Youthful Exuberance
My child, you are created for signs and wonders. You will be a sign and
wonder to your generation, in the name of Jesus. The Lord God
will grant you the grace not to turn away from what is right and to
pursue His righteousness, in the name of Jesus.
May God grant you the grace to do what is right and proper in the eyes
of God and man, in the name of Jesus. May God grant you, my
child, the grace to do things willingly to meet the standards of the
Most High God, in the name of Jesus.
May God grant you, my child, the grace not to be disobedient, but
rather you will obey the commandments of God and the rules and
regulations of the society in which you live in.
My child, you will not sway or be prompted by caprice, in the name of Jesus.
My child, you will not do anything contrary to the will of God, in the
name of Jesus.
My child, you will neither be strong-headed nor stubborn, in the name
of Jesus. You will not be difficult to talk to nor be arrogant. Your
attitude will be that of Christ’s, in the name of Jesus.
Almighty God, uphold my child with Your mighty hand, and let Your
mighty hand rest upon him/her, in the name of Jesus. My child will
not be incorrigible. My child will be open to correction to know and
do things better.
THE MAGNIFICENT 333 PRAYERS 59
Unchangeable Lord God, change my child for the better, and let there
be total turnaround in my child’s life. My God, bless my child with
the enthusiasm to know You and serve You wholeheartedly, in the
name of Jesus.
My child will not be overwhelmed with the youthful exuberance to do
the wrong things, in the name of Jesus. Waywardness will not be the
portion of my child, in the name of Jesus.
My God, cut off the excessive behavior that will lead my child astray,
in the name of Jesus. My child will not be reckless or extravagant in
spending, in the name of Jesus.
poem by Enoch O. Akanji
Submitted by Poetry Lover
Vote! | Copy!
Taken For Granted
While coming from a darker life, I treasure, much more, Jesus Christ,
He, who took me from that night, bringing me to His Awesome Light.
While in that dark, He touched my eyes, to see the life I now despise,
God’s Truth to me He did show, about that darkness I came to know.
But, some men born into His Light, may not share this precious sight,
Taking for granted this present life, not looking much to Jesus Christ.
Although they may know The Truth, their own life displays little proof,
Of the deep abiding love for Him, The Lord, who died for all their sin.
Some seem to have no appreciation, for The Lord and His Salvation,
Who had left Glory to set men free, and give new life to you and me.
But the new life for some is ignored, as they do not follow their Lord,
For change in their life has no part, while they follow their sinful heart.
Taking for granted all that was done, by Christ Jesus God’s own Son,
Coming to earth to die in our stead, this, for a people spiritually dead.
Men who ignore The Spirit living inside, sent by Jesus for us to abide,
Choosing to live their foolish way; ignoring all that the Spirit does say.
Taken for granted by some of us, is Christ the Lord, in whom we trust,
When to The Lord we do not give, this present life that we have to live,
Who saved us from a darkened world, so our life The Spirit can herald,
Using the witness of the believer’s life, as God’s Light for Jesus Christ.
They Themselves Deceive
When people sell with a doing,
To those who become sold...
They themselves deceive.
With a doing done they say they do,
They themselves deceive.
They themselves deceive.
Since many possess college degrees....
In the hopes to receive achievement to get,
Competence with a common sense...
But they themselves deceive...
With minds feeding on 'bling' and greed.!
People like this are not taught how to feel,
A difference between what is fake and what's real.
They themselves deceive.
With a thinking they do this to other people,
They themselves deceive.
People like this are not taught to assess,
Correct ways to live and with honesty best.
People who cheat find it weak to confess.
They themselves deceive,
Unknowing it with doing!
They themselves deceive.
They themselves deceive!
With a making of lies to tell and sell.
They themselves deceive!
And a manifesting of this done too well.
They themselves deceive!
They themselves deceive!
They themselves deceive!
With a making of lies to tell and sell.
They themselves deceive.
With a manifesting of this done too well.
They themselves deceive.
With a growing of this to be known and shown.
They themselves deceive.
With a growing of this to be known and shown.
They themselves deceive.
They themselves deceive.
poem by Lawrence S. Pertillar
Submitted by Poetry Lover
Vote! | Copy!