The Wars of the Worlds

(Yes, this is different than Orsen Wells' "War of the Worlds". Promise.)

World War 2 was brutal and exhausting. It unofficially began on July 7th of 1937 and officially began on September 1st, 1939.-That is over 3 years of growing tension and controversy, but with no 'official' strikes or attacks. World War 2 raged long and furiously for years, the Allies and Axis Powers constantly in battle, in an effort to end the tyranny and dictatorship that suppressed the voices and lives of millions. Life was hard.
Then on December 7th, 1941, even more tragedy struck. Pearl Harbor was attacked by the Japanese, resulting in horrible collateral damage and the loss of many great lives. The U.S. declared war on Japan and began secretly building the atomic bomb. On August 6th, 1945, the U.S. successfully launched a surprise attack on Japan, dropping atomic bombs on Hiroshima (killing 90,000-146,000 people) and Nagasaki (killing 39,000-80,000 people).
As much of a toll had taken place on both Japan and the U.S., neither would surrender. The Japanese culture instilled a loyalty in their people.-They would either win or they would die trying. Literally. They also treated Hirohito as a god, and were afraid that the U.S. would treat him badly if they surrendered. Between fear for their 'god' and their pride, they refused to give up, regardless of how many lives it would cost. The U.S. had simply had enough and insisted on victory.
Then on August 14th, 1945, Hirohito changed history in a mighty way. He, for the first time ever, came before his people with an announcement. 70 years ago, on this very day, Japanese Emperor Hirohito declared an unconditional surrender of Japan to the United States. This signaled the end of the war between Japan and the U.S., even though the two remained hostile toward one another for years.

What does this have to do with anything?

Well, on August 12th, 2015 Pastor Howard declared a war at the Lighthouse Church. Not a war on any country or group of people. No, rather it was a different kind of war.-a spiritual one. On Wednesday, we officially went to war against carnality.
Let's act like the church is the U.S. and carnality is Japan, shall we? (Not mean to imply anything about either of these countries.

Over the years, God has done great things for His people. We have had revival, signs and wonders, and great moves of God. Then, seemingly with no warning, we lose a few young people here, a young family over there. A minister strays here and a a church compromises there. Its our Pearl Harbor attack.-it comes unexpectedly and results in a great loss of life and collateral damage. The fight becomes unbearably hard and we begin to wonder if it will ever end.

Good news. It does.

You see, now that we have officially declared war, some atomic bombs are about to be dropped on the enemy. Sure, the carnal may not surrender.-maybe it is fear of how their 'god' will be treated once they do, or maybe it is just their pride. Whatever it is, we know that we aren't giving up. We aren't backing away. When this war ends, it won't be because we just got tired and decided to stop. It'll end because carnality just can't continue anymore. After all, "If God is for us, who can be against us?" and honestly, we know how the story ends. We win. If we are in God's will and we are in sincere, we win. No question.

So even when the battle gets rough and you can't see that it will ever end, hold onto the hope that we have in glory and know that you will be victorious.

Lauren Bundy