THE ONLY SOLUTION

MIKE CUNNINGHAM

January 21, 2007

When I compare the quality of life of most folks living in America today with that of the Iraqi people, I praise the Sovereign One through whom all of our blessings flow. Although it pales in comparison to the horror those poor people were subjected to under the late Saddam Hussein’s regime; they continue to experience hell on earth.

More that three thousand courageous American men and women have already sacrificed their lives in what has been dubbed by our military as “Operation Iraqi Freedom.” God only knows how many Iraqi’s have murdered each other, and no one knows for certain how many other American and it’s allies and the Iraqi’s themselves, have been severely injured.

There’s a lot of hot air blowing all around Capital Hill and in the international media these day’s as to which is the correct solution to the problem. Conservatives seem to be strong proponents of a military solution and liberals are equally as adamant for a diplomatic one. Moderates seem to favor a combination of the two in an effort to stop the carnage.

No Bible believing Christian should be surprised by the bloodbath that’s occurring in Iraq. They know these proposed solutions I just mentioned are doomed to failure for the simple reason that none of them have addressed the real problem in the first place. Just as the condition of alcoholism is a symptom of the sin of drunkenness, so too is the bloodbath taking place in Iraq a manifestation of the fact that the majority of Iraqi people are still living in captivity. They were never truly liberated and set free.

The fact that these poor suffering people continue to live in captivity is the reason a military or diplomatic solution will never solve something that only a spiritual one can. Every Bible believing Christian knows that all human beings are taken captive by the devil from the moment they are born.

That’s why even if the Iraqi people were to have a change of heart and stopped hating each other so intensely, every last one of them will still follow the devil into hell; breaking God’s laws to a greater or lesser degree along the way, just as every non-Christian in America and the rest of the world does.

Their only hope is to be set free and released from this spiritual bondage to Satan and sin. This kind of freedom is the wonderful news Jesus shared a little over two thousand years ago. His reputation as a miracle worker and authorative spiritual teacher preceded Him before the following event recorded by the Apostle Luke.

Luke 4:14-21 (AMP) ¹⁴ Then Jesus went back full of and under the power of the [Holy] Spirit into Galilee, and the fame of Him spread through the whole region round about. ¹⁵ And He Himself conducted [a course of] teaching in their synagogues, being recognized and honored and praised by all. ¹⁶ So He came to Nazareth, [that Nazareth] where He had been brought up, and He entered the synagogue, as was His custom on the Sabbath day. And He stood up to read.

¹⁷ And there was handed to Him [the roll of] the book of the prophet Isaiah. He opened (unrolled) the book and found the place where it was written, ¹⁸ The Spirit of the Lord [is] upon Me, because He has anointed Me [the Anointed One, the Messiah] to preach the good news (the Gospel) to the poor; He has sent Me to announce release to the captives and recovery of sight to the blind, to send forth as delivered those who are oppressed [who are downtrodden, bruised, crushed, and broken down by calamity], ¹⁹ To proclaim the accepted and acceptable year of the Lord [the day when salvation and the free favors of God profusely abound]. ²⁰

Then He rolled up the book and gave it back to the attendant and sat down; and the eyes of all in the synagogue were gazing [attentively] at Him. ²¹ And He began to speak to them: Today this Scripture has been fulfilled while you are present and hearing.

In so many words, Jesus just told those Jews that He has been sent to proclaim good news: “to those who are poor in spirit” (Matt. 5:3 and to “those who are humble and of a broken or wounded spirit, and who tremble at His word and revere His commands,” Isaiah 66:2 (AMP). Jesus has been sent to free those who have been captured by the devil. Later on in His ministry Jesus told His disciples: “If the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed,” (John 8:36).

Concerning freedom from this satanic bondage, the Apostle Paul reminds us that the work of salvation isn’t only carried out by the Father and Son. On the contrary, the Holy Spirit plays a vital part in bringing each of Christ’s people into the family of God.

^17“Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty (emancipation from bondage, freedom), 2 Corinthians 3:17 (AMP)

Romans 8:14 (ESV) ¹⁴all who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God.

1 Corinthians 2:10-14 (AMP) ¹⁰ Yet to us God has unveiled and revealed them by and through His Spirit, for the [Holy] Spirit searches diligently, exploring and examining everything, even sounding the profound and bottomless things of God [the divine counsels and things hidden and beyond man’s scrutiny]. ¹¹ For what person perceives (knows and understands) what passes through a man’s thoughts except the man’s own spirit within him? Just so no one discerns (comes to know and comprehend) the thoughts of God except the Spirit of God. ¹² Now we have not received the spirit [that belongs to] the world, but the [Holy] Spirit Who is from God, [given to us] that we might realize and comprehend and appreciate the gifts [of divine favor and blessing so freely and lavishly] bestowed on us by God. ¹³ And we are setting these truths forth in words not taught by human wisdom but taught by the [Holy] Spirit, combining and interpreting spiritual truths with spiritual language [to those who possess the Holy Spirit]. ¹⁴ But the natural, nonspiritual man does not accept or welcome or admit into his heart the gifts and teachings and revelations of the Spirit of God, for they are folly (meaningless nonsense) to him; and he is incapable of knowing them [of progressively recognizing, understanding, and becoming better acquainted with them] because they are spiritually discerned and estimated and appreciated.

1 Corinthians 6:11 (AMP) ¹¹ And such some of you were [once]. But you were washed clean (purified by a complete atonement for sin and made free from the guilt of sin), and you were consecrated (set apart, hallowed), and you were justified [pronounced righteous, by trusting] in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and in the [Holy] Spirit of our God.

Those spiritually dead people I first called your attention to in my Christmas Eve story are the ones the Spirit makes alive in Christ.

2 Corinthians 3:6 (AMP) ⁶ [It is He] Who has qualified us [making us to be fit and worthy and sufficient] as ministers and dispensers of a new covenant [of salvation through Christ], not [ministers] of the letter (of legally written code) but of the Spirit; for the code [of the Law] kills, but the [Holy] Spirit makes alive.

John 1:12-13 (AMP) ¹² But to as many as did receive and welcome Him, He gave the authority (power, privilege, right) to become the children of God, that is, to those who believe in (adhere to, trust in, and rely on) His name— ¹³ Who owe their birth neither to bloods nor to the will of the flesh [that of physical impulse] nor to the will of man [that of a natural father], but to God. [They are born of God the Holy Spirit!]

John 3:3-8 (AMP) ³ Jesus answered him, I assure you, most solemnly I tell you, that unless a person is born again (anew, from above), he cannot ever see (know, be acquainted with, and experience) the kingdom of God. ⁴ Nicodemus said to Him, How can a man be born when he is old? Can he enter his mother’s womb again and be born? ⁵ Jesus answered, I assure you, most solemnly I tell you, unless a man is born of water and [even] the Spirit, he cannot [ever] enter the kingdom of God. ⁶ What is born of [from] the flesh is flesh [of the physical is physical]; and what is born of the Spirit is spirit.

⁷ Marvel not [do not be surprised, astonished] at My telling you, You must all be born anew (from above). ⁸ The wind blows (breathes) where it wills; and though you hear its sound, yet you neither know where it comes from nor where it is going. So it is with everyone who is born of the Spirit.

Titus 3:5 (AMP) ⁵ He saved us, not because of any works of righteousness that we had done, but because of His own pity and mercy, by [the] cleansing [bath] of the new birth (regeneration) and renewing of the Holy Spirit,

It’s sad so many Christians are spiritually anorexic. They refuse to nourish themselves regularly by studying and listening to the Word of God being preached in Bible believing churches.

1 Peter 1:23 (AMP) ²³ You have been regenerated (born again), not from a mortal origin (seed, sperm), but from one that is immortal by the ever living and lasting Word Of GOD.

The Spirit gives spiritually dead people a new heart and He strongly inclines each of them to want to follow and obey their Savior.

Deuteronomy 30:6 (AMP) ⁶ And the Lord your God will circumcise your hearts and the hearts of your descendants, to love the Lord your God with all your [mind and] heart and with all your being, that you may live.

Ezekiel 36:26-27 (AMP) ²⁶ A new heart will I give you and a new spirit will I put within you, and I will take away the stony heart out of your flesh and give you a heart of flesh. ²⁷ And I will put My Spirit within you and cause you to walk in My statutes, and you shall heed My ordinances and do them.

Ezekiel 11:19 (AMP) ¹⁹ And I will give them one heart [a new heart] and I will put a new spirit within them; and I will take the stony [unnaturally hardened] heart out of their flesh, and will give them a heart of flesh [sensitive and responsive to the touch of their God],

Only Christians are part of that new race of people God is creating that I spoke about in my Christmas Eve story. They become alive in Christ.

Ephesians 2:10 (AMP) ¹⁰ For we are God’s [own] handiwork (His workmanship), recreated in Christ Jesus, [born anew] that we may do those good works which God predestined (planned beforehand) for us [taking paths which He prepared ahead of time], that we should walk in them [living the good life which He prearranged and made ready for us to live].

2 Corinthians 5:17-18 (AMP) ¹⁷ Therefore if any person is [ingrafted] in Christ (the Messiah) he is a new creation (a new creature altogether); the old [previous moral and spiritual condition] has passed away. Behold, the fresh and new has come! ¹⁸ But all things are from God, Who through Jesus Christ reconciled us to Himself [received us into favor, brought us into harmony with Himself] and gave to us the ministry of reconciliation [that by word and deed we might aim to bring others into harmony with Him].

John 5:21 (AMP) ²¹ Just as the Father raises up the dead and gives them life [makes them live on], even so the Son also gives life to whomever He wills and is pleased to give it.

Ephesians 2:1 (AMP) ¹ AND YOU [He made alive], when you were dead (slain) by [your] trespasses and sins

Ephesians 2:5 (AMP) ⁵ Even when we were dead (slain) by [our own] shortcomings and trespasses, He made us alive together in fellowship and in union with Christ; [He gave us the very life of Christ Himself, the same new life with which He quickened Him, for] it is by grace (His favor and mercy which you did not deserve) that you are saved (delivered from judgment and made partakers of Christ’s salvation).

Colossians 2:13 (AMP) ¹³ And you who were dead in trespasses and in the uncircumcision of your flesh (your sensuality, your sinful carnal nature), [God] brought to life together with [Christ], having [freely] forgiven us all our transgressions,

It is the Holy Spirit Himself who lives inside every follower of Christ. It is the Holy Spirit who whispers into his or her mind and heart and personally reveals spiritual truth to the newly created person.

Matthew 11:25-27 (AMP) ²⁵ At that time Jesus began to say, I thank You, Father, Lord of heaven and earth [and I acknowledge openly and joyfully to Your honor], that You have hidden these things from the wise and clever and learned, and revealed them to babies [to the childish, untaught, and unskilled]. ²⁶ Yes, Father, [I praise You that] such was Your gracious will and good pleasure. ²⁷ All things have been entrusted and delivered to Me by My Father; and no one fully knows and accurately understands the Son except the Father, and no one fully knows and accurately understands the Father except the Son and anyone to whom the Son deliberately wills to make Him known.

Luke 10:21 (AMP) ²¹ In that same hour He rejoiced and gloried in the Holy Spirit and said, I thank You, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that You have concealed these things [relating to salvation] from the wise and understanding and learned, and revealed them to babes (the childish, unskilled, and untaught). Yes, Father, for such was Your gracious will and choice and good pleasure.

Matthew 13:10-11 (AMP) ¹⁰ Then the disciples came to Him and said, Why do You speak to them in parables? ¹¹ And He replied to them, To you it has been given to know the secrets and mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it has not been given.

Matthew 13:16 (AMP) ¹⁶ But blessed (happy, fortunate, and to be envied) are your eyes because they do see, and your ears because they do hear.

Matthew 16:15-17 (AMP) ¹⁵ He said to them, But who do you [yourselves] say that I am? ¹⁶ Simon Peter replied, You are the Christ, the Son of the living God. ¹⁷ Then Jesus answered him, Blessed (happy, fortunate, and to be envied) are you, Simon Bar-Jonah. For flesh and blood [men] have not revealed this to you, but My Father Who is in heaven.

Luke 8:10 (AMP) ¹⁰ He said to them, To you it has been given to [come progressively to] know (to recognize and understand more strongly and clearly) the mysteries and secrets of the kingdom of God, but for others they are in parables, so that, [though] looking, they may not see; and hearing, they may not comprehend.

John 6:37 (AMP) ³⁷ All whom My Father gives (entrusts) to Me will come to Me; and the one who comes to Me I will most certainly not cast out [I will never, no never, reject one of them who comes to Me].

John 6:44-45 (AMP) ⁴⁴ No one is able to come to Me unless the Father Who sent Me attracts and draws him and gives him the desire to come to Me, and [then] I will raise him up [from the dead] at the last day. ⁴⁵ It is written in [the book of] the Prophets, And they shall all be taught of God [have Him in person for their Teacher]. Everyone who has listened to and learned from the Father comes to Me—

John 6:64-65 (AMP) ⁶⁴ But [still] some of you fail to believe and trust and have faith. For Jesus knew from the first who did not believe and had no faith and who would betray Him and be false to Him. ⁶⁵ And He said, This is why I told you that no one can come to Me unless it is granted him [unless he is enabled to do so] by the Father.

1 Corinthians 2:14 (AMP) ¹⁴ But the natural, nonspiritual man does not accept or welcome or admit into his heart the gifts and teachings and revelations of the Spirit of God, for they are folly (meaningless nonsense) to him; and he is incapable of knowing them [of progressively recognizing, understanding, and becoming better acquainted with them] because they are spiritually discerned and estimated and appreciated.

Ephesians 1:17-18 (AMP) ¹⁷ [For I always pray to] the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, that He may grant you a spirit of wisdom and revelation [of insight into mysteries and secrets] in the [deep and intimate] knowledge of Him, ¹⁸ By having the eyes of your heart flooded with light, so that you can know and understand the hope to which He has called you, and how rich is His glorious inheritance in the saints (His set-apart ones),

John 10:3-6 (AMP) ³ The watchman opens the door for this man, and the sheep listen to his voice and heed it; and he calls his own sheep by name and brings (leads) them out. ⁴ When he has brought his own sheep outside, he walks on before them, and the sheep follow him because they know his voice. ⁵ They will never [on any account] follow a stranger, but will run away from him because they do not know the voice of strangers or recognize their call. ⁶ Jesus used this parable (illustration) with them, but they did not understand what He was talking about.

John 10:16 (AMP) ¹⁶ And I have other sheep [beside these] that are not of this fold. I must bring and impel those also; and they will listen to My voice and heed My call, and so there will be [they will become] one flock under one Shepherd.

John 10:26-29 (AMP) ²⁶ But you do not believe and trust and rely on Me because you do not belong to My fold [you are no sheep of Mine]. ²⁷ The sheep that are My own hear and are listening to My voice; and I know them, and they follow Me. ²⁸ And I give them eternal life, and they shall never lose it or perish throughout the ages. [To all eternity they shall never by any means be destroyed.] And no one is able to snatch them out of My hand. ²⁹ My Father, Who has given them to Me, is greater and mightier than all [else]; and no one is able to snatch [them] out of the Father’s hand.

Before I arrived at church this morning I have prayed and asked the Holy Spirit to add His blessing to these words I have just spoken, and to help each of you folks to clearly see and understand that as far as a solution to the problem in Iraq or anywhere else is concerned; it isn’t a military or diplomatic, but rather a spiritual one which is THE ONLY SOLUTION.