Alright so it has been an unbelievably long time since I have posted anything. The reason is that work has been busy and I only use the Internet at work.
God has been unbelievably gracious to me. Not that this is not normal but He has granted me a greater awareness of it this week. He has reminded me that I cannot do anything without Him and has granted me a fresh dependence upon His Spirit working in and through me to accomplish what He wills. I am excited and trust that this work will continue.
I have been asked to write about what it looks like to walk around “poor in spirit”. I am no expert but this is what I believe after reading Scripture and praying. Being poor in spirit means that you realize that you are utterly hopless without Christ and that you would deny Him if He did not sustain you every second of every day. Nothing good dwells in you except the Spirit of Christ. It is realizing who you are and having your dependence be wholly on God.
Last but not least I have a question for everyone. I am not looking for a fight and have been dwelling on this for two days now. I want your comments and I will comment in a few days.
I read an article that talked about how the christians in a town in Iraq have decided that they will take up arms and defend themselves against persecution.
Is this okay? Please give me your thoughts. I also would ask that you not give me your personal opinion. I would like responses that are well thought out with Scripture. Thank you very much. I look forward to hearing from everyone.
Romans 12:19-20
19Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave it to the wrath of God, for it is written, “Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord.”
Does anything more need to be said?
Mat 5:10 “Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
Mat 5:11 “Blessed are you when others revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account.
Mat 5:12 Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you.
My God is able to fight for me should He desire a fight be made for my defense. Are we more than our Master? Did not Jesus have the ability to destroy those who set out to destroy Him? Yet He did not raise a hand against them. We are to emulate our Lord.
I am no scholar, nor am I a great study on God’s word. I only know what I have read and I take it very simply. My understanding is that God never changes and that His word is revelant for all times. With that being said, “my belief” (sorry) is that it should be a matter of prayer on bended knee before God asking for HIS guidance as to what to do…and not piking up arms merely out of fear. My reason…because I have been reading in II Chronicles.
In II Chronicles 11, Rehoboam was mobilizing the house of Judah and Benjamin to fight against Israel. In vs 2, it states, “BUT the word of the Lord came to Shemaih, the man of God: vs 3, Say to Rehoboam son of Solomon, king of Judah, to all Israel in Judah and Benjamin, and to the rest of the people” vs 4 This is what the LORD says: You are not to march up and fight against your brothers. Each of you must return home, for THIS INCIDENT HAS COME FROM ME.
In Chap. 20, vs 15, The Lord tells all Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem and King Jehosaphat not to be afraid because the battle is not theirs, but God’s. In this case, they were obviously going into battle but the Lord was with them.
So, as I see it, some things are from God…and the only way to prepare for any kind of defense whether by “staying at home” or “going to battle” is with the Lord’s guidance.
Over and over, the chapters speak on those who followed the Lord and those who didn’t…and at times, when people were humbled, the Lord’s anger was turned away from them and He did not destroy them completely. And at times, He was definitely with them and no enemy escaped. And in other times, He said because they had abandoned Him, He was abandoning them.
This is where I can see that having a “relationship” with the Lord versus an “acquaintance” with Him makes a difference in our lives. It is certainly a matter of consulting the Lord. Perhaps this is not the angle you were looking for but as I see it, consulting earnestly after the Lord is never wrong.
I agree with everything that has been said. I think that it would be hard for me to give them advice on what to do. I don’t in any way relate to them except we claim the same relationship with our Savior.
I would agree with Josh on Romans 12:19-20.
However it would be difficult me telling men whose wives and children are being beaten to not take up a defense.
An excellent answer to the “poor in spirit” question!