The Lord's Army

What does Jesus say, and do we care?  We say, "What would Jesus do?", and then do as we see fit, following our own impulses.  Jesus says that if we love God we will obey His commands.  All God's commands are fulfilled in love, and perfect love casts out fear.  God gives us of His Holy Spirit so we may have the direction and power to live lives pleasing to Him.  Jesus tells us we must be born again - die to self and become alive in Him.  Can I say that it is no longer I that lives, but Christ that lives in me?  Does my life in Christ call me to violent self defense?  Is this what it means to be in the Lord's Army?  Or are we to 'take up your cross and follow me" (Jesus)?  Let us see what Jesus says, and does (demonstrates for the one who is taking up their cross, and following Him).  Let us see what His Disciples do in defense of their self.

Soldiers came to take Jesus, prepared for force.  Here is an account of what took place: "And, behold, one of them which were with Jesus stretched out his hand, and drew his sword, and struck a servant of the high priest's, and smote off his ear. Then said Jesus unto him, Put up again thy sword into his place: for all they that take the sword shall perish with the sword."
Matthew:26:51-52

At another time Jesus was having a conversation with His Disciples.  They were coming into the knowledge of who Jesus is.  Jesus gave them this warning: "...the Son of man must suffer many things, and be rejected of the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be slain, and be raised the third day. And he said to them all, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me. For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: but whosoever will lose his life for my sake, the same shall save it."
Luke:9:22-24

Here is the account of Stephen's murder - the first Martyr for Christ Jesus: "Ye stiffnecked and uncircumcised in heart and ears, ye do always resist the Holy Ghost: as your fathers did, so do ye. Which of the prophets have not your fathers persecuted? and they have slain them which shewed before of the coming of the Just One; of whom ye have been now the betrayers and murderers: Who have received the law by the disposition of angels, and have not kept it. When they heard these things, they were cut to the heart, and they gnashed on him with their teeth. But he, being full of the Holy Ghost, looked up stedfastly into heaven, and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing on the right hand of God, And said, Behold, I see the heavens opened, and the Son of man standing on the right hand of God. Then they cried out with a loud voice, and stopped their ears, and ran upon him with one accord, And cast him out of the city, and stoned him: and the witnesses laid down their clothes at a young man's feet, whose name was Saul. And they stoned Stephen, calling upon God, and saying, Lord Jesus, receive my spirit. And he kneeled down, and cried with a loud voice, Lord, lay not this sin to their charge. And when he had said this, he fell asleep."
Acts:7:51-60.  Does not the world seek to kill God's people?  Is it different today?  Why do we cry out in defense of our rights and safety?  Why do we seek to preserve our life?

Here are some scriptures about the last days - we are warned, "Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution."
2 Timothy:3:12

"And when he had opened the fifth seal, I saw under the altar the souls of them that were slain for the word of God, and for the testimony which they held:"
Revelation:6:9

"And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony; and they loved not their lives unto the death."
Revelation:12:11

"And it was given unto him to make war with the saints, and to overcome them: and power was given him over all kindreds, and tongues, and nations. And all that dwell upon the earth shall worship him, whose names are not written in the book of life of the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world. If any man have an ear, let him hear. He that leadeth into captivity shall go into captivity: he that killeth with the sword must be killed with the sword. Here is the patience and the faith of the saints."
Revelation:13:7-10

"And he cried mightily with a strong voice, saying, Babylon the great is fallen, is fallen, and is become the habitation of devils, and the hold of every foul spirit, and a cage of every unclean and hateful bird. And in her was found the blood of prophets, and of saints, and of all that were slain upon the earth."
Revelation:18:2,24

Jesus Christ never taught us self defense.  Jesus Christ never demonstrated for us self defense.  In fact, "...he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed."
Isaiah:53:5.  Jesus Christ went willingly to a violent death on the cross.  He went with much derision upon him, in silence, without defending Himself to His accusers.  "Then said Jesus, Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do. And they parted his raiment, and cast lots. And the people stood beholding. And the rulers also with them derided him, saying, He saved others; let him save himself, if he be Christ, the chosen of God. And the soldiers also mocked him, coming to him, and offering him vinegar, And saying, If thou be the king of the Jews, save thyself. And a superscription also was written over him in letters of Greek, and Latin, and Hebrew, THIS IS THE KING OF THE JEWS. And one of the malefactors which were hanged railed on him, saying, If thou be Christ, save thyself and us."
Luke:23:34-39

We wait upon the deliverance and salvation of the Lord God, and rejoice to give our lives for the sake of Jesus Christ and His Gospel.  To be absent from the earth is to be present with Jesus. Those who seek to save their lives will lose them.  Our ONLY salvation is in Christ Jesus - not in being armed, and by methods of war.  We are to be set apart from the methods of the world!  We are to appear different, a peculiar people.

"It is good that a man should both hope and quietly wait for the salvation of the LORD."
Lamentations:3:26

"Teach me thy way, O LORD, and lead me in a plain path, because of mine enemies. Deliver me not over unto the will of mine enemies: for false witnesses are risen up against me, and such as breathe out cruelty. I had fainted, unless I had believed to see the goodness of the LORD in the land of the living. Wait on the LORD: be of good courage, and he shall strengthen thine heart: wait, I say, on the LORD."
Psalm:27:11-14

"And therefore will the LORD wait, that he may be gracious unto you, and therefore will he be exalted, that he may have mercy upon you: for the LORD is a God of judgment: blessed are all they that wait for him.
Isaiah:30:18

Christian, put down the gun, take up the cross, and follow Jesus.  Wait upon the Lord.  Amen.

Groping For God

The other day I was reading Acts 17 in my New King James Version bible.  Paul was in Athens, speaking to the philosophers there regarding an idol he saw titled "The Unknown God".  Paul was using this opportunity to tell these people of the truth of Jesus Christ.  Here is what Paul told them.

Acts 17: "24 God, who made the world and everything in it, since He is Lord of heaven and earth, does not dwell in temples made with hands. 25 Nor is He worshiped with men’s hands, as though He needed anything, since He gives to all life, breath, and all things. 26 And He has made from one blood every nation of men to dwell on all the face of the earth, and has determined their preappointed times and the boundaries of their dwellings, 27 so that they should seek the Lord, in the hope that they might grope for Him and find Him, though He is not far from each one of us; 28 for in Him we live and move and have our being, as also some of your own poets have said, ‘For we are also His offspring.’ 29 Therefore, since we are the offspring of God, we ought not to think that the Divine Nature is like gold or silver or stone, something shaped by art and man’s devising. 30 Truly, these times of ignorance God overlooked, but now commands all men everywhere to repent, 31 because He has appointed a day on which He will judge the world in righteousness by the Man whom He has ordained. He has given assurance of this to all by raising Him from the dead.”

Here is a part of the scripture (verse 27) that really gripped me, and has stayed with me: "so that they should seek the Lord, in the hope that they might grope for Him and find Him, though He is not far from each one of us..." 

This is what I do every night and day, in prayer.  I "grope" for God.  I grope to get a sense of His presence, and this verse tells me that even as I grope, He is already with me.  I grope to know of His will for me.  I invite Him to search me and know me.  I invite Him to indwell me, and reign upon the throne of my heart.  I invite Him to direct and place my every step.  I invite Him to guard my eyes, my ears, and to guard my mouth - and, not only to guard my mouth, but to touch my mouth as He did the Prophet Jeremiah, keeping my communications to His Word, alone.  I recognize that God's words are life.  My words are death.  I implore God that He walk with me - abide with me - as I seek (grope) to abide with Him.  I implore Him to indwell me with His Holy Spirit that I may be Holy as He is Holy, and that it be to His good pleasure and His glory.  I desire that God take pleasure in me, as I have grown to love Him with all my Being.  I grope to become One with Him as Christ Jesus, my Lord and Savior, is One with the Father. 

I come to the Father by means of the Son.  Christ Jesus is the ONLY Way to the Father of our Creation - in Whom we live and move and have our Being!  Christ Jesus holds the keys to Heaven and Hell.  He is the King of all Kings, and Lord of all Lords.  And, He - the King - came to earth in the most humble of circumstance to identify Himself with the homeless, rejected, poor, and meek, of the earth.  When Christ Jesus took our penalty of sin upon Himself, at the Cross, he went down into the grave and took His place with the rich.
Isaiah 53:9 "And they made His grave with the wicked - But with the rich at His death, Because He had done no violence, Nor was any deceit in His mouth."

What does this scripture infer about the rich?  What did Jesus tell the rich man who wanted to follow Him?  Matthew 19:21 “If you want to be perfect, go, sell what you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow Me.”  What instruction did Jesus give to His Follower?  Matthew 5:48 "Therefore you shall be perfect, just as your Father in heaven is perfect."  How is it possible, then, that any of us can be saved? 

Matthew 19:23-30 Christ Jesus tells us, "23 Then Jesus said to His disciples, “Assuredly, I say to you that it is hard for a rich man to enter the kingdom of heaven. 24 And again I say to you, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God.” 25 When His disciples heard it, they were greatly astonished, saying, “Who then can be saved?” 26 But Jesus looked at them and said to them, “With men this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.” 27 Then Peter answered and said to Him, “See, we have left all and followed You. Therefore what shall we have?” 28 So Jesus said to them, “Assuredly I say to you, that in the regeneration, when the Son of Man sits on the throne of His glory, you who have followed Me will also sit on twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel. 29 And everyone who has left houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or wife or children or lands, for My name’s sake, shall receive a hundredfold, and inherit eternal life. 30 But many who are first will be last, and the last first." 

Christ Jesus told us to seek, FIRST, the Kingdom of God, AND His righteousness, THEN all these things (of our earthy concerns) will be added unto you (Matthew 6:33).  Jesus tells us that God, the Father, knows what we need before we ask!  When God is our first love we need not worry over provision.  Yet, our Father will not give us anything that will hurt us - including wealth.  Am I seeking (groping for) healing of my physical body, or am I seeking (groping for) God? Am I seeking (groping for) financial provision and abundance, or am I seeking (groping for) God?  Am I struggling to preserve my life?  Or, am I joining my Savior in death so that I may resurrect with Him, a New Man, in Eternal Life?  Jesus tells us we must be born again.  Can I say, "It is no longer I that lives, but Christ that lives in me"?  If I want to live I must be willing to die, for the sake of Christ Jesus.  If I struggle to preserve my life, for my sake, I will lose it.

May I always be groping for God - His righteousness, and His Kingdom.  He will meet me there, for He is always with me, in truth.  He has given me His Holy Spirit that I may have the power to live Holy, as He is Holy.  He has given me of His Son, my Lord and Savior Christ Jesus, so that I may be forgiven of my sins.  He calls me, continually, to repentance so I may be made whole, and Holy, in Him.  Repentance is good for the Soul, yet we often balk at it so.  ALL of God's instruction to us is for our good!  Because He is merciful, and He loves us... and, He is Holy, above all.  God is good.

Psalm 23 "The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. 2 He makes me to lie down in green pastures; He leads me beside the still waters. 3 He restores my soul; He leads me in the paths of righteousness for His name’s sake. 4 Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil; For You are with me; Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me. 5 You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; You anoint my head with oil; My cup runs over. 6 Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life; And I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever."

Amen.