‘President Duterte should know better than be consumed by the political game and the insidious agenda that feeds on it.’
Senior Pastor Peter Tan-chi of the Christ’s Commission Fellowship (CCF) last Sunday preached on worship, and its Biblical way of worshipping in spirit and in truth. And the reality of the spiritual warfare shows that “we do not struggle against flesh and blood, but against principalities and rulers, powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil.” (Ephesians: 6:12). Sickness, disease, addictions and other forms of suffering are from the devil but praise and worship bring deliverance from demonic attacks and possession that lead to miraculous healings.
Scores of Born-Again evangelists since the 18th century have been known to exhibit such power through the Holy Spirit, “the Spirit that raised Lazarus from the dead and the same Spirit that raised Jesus from the dead.” They would confront and command the devils to leave the afflicted persons.
The healing evangelist John G. Lake found that healing miracles were possible when he recognized that sickness and suffering were oppressions from Satan. In the early 1900s Lake’s healing crusades in Spokane, Washington cured about 100,000 people, more than the three hospitals there. Spokane became to be known as the healthiest place in the US.
Healing people from sickness and deliverance from the devil were major ministries to Jesus who is alive and who is “the same yesterday, today and forever.” But why are the Churches today not complying with such “greater work” which qualifies as part of the Great Commission? Mark 16 clearly provides: “Go into all the world and preach the good news to all creation. Whoever believes and is baptize will be saved…. And these signs will accompany those who believe: in My Name they will drive out demons, they will speak in new tongues…. they will place their hands on sick people and they will get healed.”
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President Duterte can only hope to leave a good name. Twenty years from now the Filipino people won’t remember him for his power and wealth or distinctions for the public good. Where else would he look at other than the judgment of history for reverence or respect?
Kindness, compassion, sacrifice and moral have distinguished the truly great presidents of the US. Franklin Delano Roosevelt was not quite outstanding when he became governor of New York before making it to presidency. His political career and legacy would be defined by two major challenges that he and his country had to face — the Great Depression and the Second World War. After being stricken with polio and confined to a wheelchair, he uncovered a steely will that equaled the huge uncertainties facing his people and which his fellow Americans didn’t think was there. FDR was the only president in US history to be voted four times in office for his remarkable leadership during those very trying times.
President Duterte should know better than be consumed by the political game and the insidious agenda that feeds on it. And yet he may be cut out to deal with this current pandemic more effectively than he thought — for his good name and enduring esteem.
