Week Forty-Nine, 2023
What Jesus says about war? In his prophecies of the Last Things, Jesus spoke of the wars of the future. He said that nation would rise against nation and kingdom against kingdom, that wars and rumors of wars would be heard of, that Judea would be devastated, Jerusalem besieged and taken by the gentiles, and the Temple defiled and destroyed.
Some have fought in battle, and all have seen it in movies. It involves implements of war, like guns and tanks and personal physical combat. And it is getting more sophisticated. The B-21 Raider took its first test flight last month, moving the futuristic warplane closer to becoming the nation’s next nuclear weapons stealth bomber.
But, even more sophisticated than our new weapons in the emergence of 5G warfare. It is information warfare. Those who can control information, true or false can control the world. Wars are no longer about helicopters and machine guns. Rapid changes in both technology and information flow have made our world completely different from what we have come to know as our reality; and how we shape that reality in our minds.
In kinetic/old school warfare, our soldiers need to be trained in order to fight and defend. They must be trained to evade – and use lethal force to kill the enemy. In an information war (5G war), the goal is to control the truth. To control people’s minds through deception and information delivery. In a 5G war leaders must train their followers to be immune from deception; and to know how to find the truth. They must be trained how to (1) Find truth and (2) Identify deception. Discernment comes from knowing what truth looks like, where it can be found, and how it can be found.
In the Cold War it was relatively easy to say that this fighter jet is a weapon and that that phone is a tool. But when we install the ability to sense, digitize, connect, process, learn, share, and act into more and more things—from your GPS-enabled phone to your car to your toaster to your favorite app—they all become dual use, either weapons or tools depending on who controls the software running them and who owns the data that they spin off.
Today, it’s just a few lines of code that separate autonomous cars from autonomous weapons. And, as we’ve seen in Ukraine, a smartphone can be used by Grandma to call the grandkids or to call a Ukrainian rocket-launching unit and give it the GPS coordinates of a Russian tank in her backyard.
The only thing that needs to happen is that we collectively learn to tell truth from lies. If we do that, we win. And, we will be united in that truth, along with the strong emotional bond that will be formed when we do it. Artificial Intelligence (AI) is frightening, and it is being used both for and against us.
But it is about more than fighting battlefield wars. The church is at war, a war against good and evil. Recently, I asked a woman if she believed in Jesus. She replied saying no and that she believed in science instead.
But always remember that all perfect truth stems from God. This is as much a spiritual process as it is an intellectual one. One Bible verse that discusses the idea that the battle belongs to the Lord is found in 1 Samuel 17:47: “All those gathered here will know that it is not by sword or spear that the Lord saves; for the battle is the Lord’s, and he will give all of you into our hands.”
Be ready for the 5G war in the church. As in battle, wars will be won or lost with information rather than traditional warfare, so to, the church is poised to fight the information battle.
SOMETIMES TRUE STORIES
WORDS OF WISDOM FROM EDGAR APONTE:
▪ As citizens of the Kingdom of Heaven, we must treasure that which is eternal, devote ourselves to that which is godly, and be mastered by God alone.
▪ Be wise and generous with what you have by investing in eternal rewards.
▪ What you value reveals what you are devoted to. Have the right devotion!
▪ In Christ, God is your Master. Show that He is your master in the way you use money.
▪ What makes you happier, giving your money to the kingdom of heaven or spending on things for yourself?
▪ Treasures in heaven are things that have eternal consequences.
▪ If you are a Christian, heaven is your home.
▪ Do you get more excited about shopping or going to church?
▪ You will be mastered by Christ, or you will be mastered by possessions. You cannot be mastered by both.
— o —
If you watch HGTV too long, you’ll become dissatisfied with your home.
If you stay on social media too long, you’ll become dissatisfied with your life.
If you watch the news too long, you’ll become dissatisfied with the world.
So,
▪ Unplug.
▪ Pray.
▪ Read your bible.
▪ Read a book.
▪ Spend time with loved ones.
▪ Take a walk.
Our minds are easily influenced, but we control what the influences are. Choose wisely.
— o —
The Salvation Army’s tag line is “doing the most good”. Founded in July of 1865 in London, they are living up to that line. They have churches throughout the world. They have thrift shops where the less fortunate can purchase donated items for modest prices. They have rehabilitation centers where those who are combating addiction can recover through “work therapy” and God’s redeeming power. The list goes on. And they stay focused on their core ministries.
The Apostle Paul reminded the church in Thessaloniki to stay focused as well. He admonished them to avoid distractions that keep them from doing good.
That admonishment applies to us today. With all that is going on in the world, we can get caught up in the bad, or less good, things that keep us from doing good. We are meant to make a positive impact on our world. Remember, as we follow the Salvation Army’s pattern, we always do our good in Jesus’ name and for His glory.
Do the most good. Rich Jensen
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QUOTES YOU CAN USE
He is no fool who gives what he cannot keep; to gain that which he cannot lose. Jim Elliot
The only thing true in this world is God’s Word. Sermon Central
In the business world, the rearview mirror is always clearer than the windshield. Warren Buffett
One thing we don’t seem to lack in the world around us are the voices who claim to have the answers. Scott Whitaker
Our relationships with others must be nourished and nurtured. To experience personal and spiritual growth is to cultivate, develop, and enhance our relationships. Ken Weliever
Great things are accomplished when many small things are put together. Vincent van Gogh
God wants us to live in constant, minute-by-minute readiness for His return. Dan Shock
No matter what accomplishments you make, somebody helped you. Althea Gibson
It’s even harder to stay at the top in sports than it is to get there. Babe Didrikson Zaharias
I have decided to stick with love. Hate is too great a burden to bear. Martin Luther King, Jr.
Gratitude is not only the greatest of virtues but the parent of all the others. Cicero
If you have an important point to make, don’t try to be subtle or clever. Use a pile driver. Hit the point once. Then come back and hit it again. Then hit it a third time-a tremendous whack. Winston Churchill
All great change in America begins at the dinner table. President Ronald Reagan
The true soldier fights not because he hates what is in front of him, but because he loves what is behind him. G.K. Chesterton
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