Song of the Day : Opression : Ben Harper

I have been studying Ephesians lately, it is an amazing book. We are going to be going over the book in the fall with the youth ministry. There is a lot of stuff in Ephesians about battleing and waging war against the "dark forces" that are out to keep us ineffective, busy, sinful, occupied with anything but God's will and his work. I recently had a thought about this inspire me from a great movie, The Usual Suspects. In one of the film's most memorable moments, at the end Verbal quotes the French poet Baudelaire, saying "The greatest trick the Devil ever pulled was convincing the world he didn't exist." I add to this, the second greatest trick the Devil ever pulled was convincing Christians that he is not active in their life.

My brother Brian was talking to me and he said something pretty interesting. He said, "every time I start getting things right, something goes wrong and throws me off." I then saw something of a pattern there and asked, "do you think that is a coincidence? Sounds like a well thought out plan to me."

I then came upon a quote of a man who was interviewing some Soiux Indians. He was asking them about old Western Movies, and said was it really like that? The Indians flinging arrows one after another in volleys? The Indian relied, "Are you kidding?! Have you ever made an arrow by had before? When we let an arrow go, we expect to hear an, "Ouch." I think that Satan is the same way, he hand crafts his schemes directly at us to keep us ineffective for God. Satan does not always attack us with blatant temptations for sin, but if he can just keep us busy, or occupied, or even (Lord Forbid) entertained, then we are not focusing on God and what he wants to use us for.

The apostle Paul said something really cool in Acts 20, "If anyone suffers eternal death, it's not my fault, for I didn't shrink from declaring all that God wants you to know." v26

All that said, I was listening to Ben Harper on the way to work today to get the proper theme song and background for my day, it was pretty insightful:

Oppression
you pray on us when we sleep
oppression
you chase after the tired the poor the weak
oppression
you know you mean only harm
oppression
you reach out with your long arm

but oppression
I won't let you near me
oppression
you shall learn to fear me

oppression
you seek population control
oppression
to divide and to conquer is your goal
oppression
I swear that hatred is your home
oppression
you just won't leave bad enough alone

but oppression
I won't let you near me
oppression
you shall learn to fear me

oppression
I don't see how you sleep
oppression
for your bleeding conscience I weep
oppression
you may have the dollar on your side
but oppression
from the gospel truth you cannot hide
and
oppression
I won't let you near me
oppression
you shall learn to fear me
oppression
I won't let you near me
oppression
you shall fear me

Compare that to some of these verses from Ephesians:

And “don’t sin by letting anger control you.” Don’t let the sun go down while you are still angry, for anger gives a foothold to the devil.

A final word: Be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. Put on all of God’s armor so that you will be able to stand firm against all strategies of the devil. For we are not fighting against flesh-and-blood enemies, but against evil rulers and authorities of the unseen world, against mighty powers in this dark world, and against evil spirits in the heavenly places.