09/11/2025
For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places. (Eph 6:12 ESV)
Beloved in the Lord, the events of the past three weeks have burdened my heart to write you a message of encouragement. The horrible atrocities that have afflicted our nation have pierced our hearts to the core. Again, we are reminded that all is not well with our nation. Many would see this as a political problem and seek political solutions. To be sure, politics is one avenue to address the immediate situation, but politics is not the issue. The divide in our nation is far deeper than the political, psychological, or cultural. It is spiritual. While some are quick to point fingers, we must come to the realization that we are wrestling, not against flesh and blood, but against the spiritual forces of evil. Our pursuit of tolerance has led to the neglect of truth, allowing evil to take root in our midst. We have denied spiritual realities and accepted relative alternates. Lies, misinformation, false accusations and misconceptions have fomented hatred of our neighbor culminating in violence and bloodshed.
When violence strikes it’s all too easy to want to respond in kind. In the world, such violent outbursts can only lead to more violence or cowardice. Neither of which will bring peace and harmony. We cannot respond to hatred and violence with more hatred and violence. Jesus calls us to be more, to be better. Jesus calls us to love our neighbor as ourselves and to be ready to suffer for it. We must remember the words of St. Paul, that we do not wrestle with flesh and blood. Our neighbor is not our enemy. Sin, death, and the devil are our enemy – the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms Only the speaking of truth in love will bring reconciliation and peace.
As followers of Jesus we trust in His death and resurrection. He has already won the victory and assured us peace through faith in Him. Jesus died so that you don’t have to die forever in hell. His love for us is the motivation for us to love one another. And love is not tolerant. “Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; it does not rejoice at wrongdoing, but rejoices with the truth. Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. Love never ends. (1Co 13:4-8 ESV) Love must be the answer to violence and tragedy.
Jesus teaches us, “in the world you will have tribulations. But take heart, I have overcome the world.” (JOHN 16:33) In Jesus there is peace because Jesus has overcome the world and all the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. He is risen and gives us hope in the midst of sin and death and world full of evil. Let us look to Jesus and learn to love one another all the more. Let us look to Jesus and speak the truth in love, always ready to give a reason for the hope within us. Let us look to Jesus in times of sorrow and sadness, when the world is falling part, and our neighbors is hurting. Let love abound in us, not violence nor hatred, but love, love that rejoices in truth and speaks truth in the face of evil. Let love abound in our nation, our communities and our families. Let us love one another as He has loved us.
In Jesus,
Pastor Sikora
