The Secret Society of God - Taking off the lenses of religious Christianity

 “Judge not, and you will not be judged; condemn not, and you will not be condemned; forgive, and you will be forgiven; give, and it will be given to you.  Good measure, pressed down, shaken together, running over, will be put into your lap.  For with the measure you use it will be measured back to you.”   Luke 6:37-38

The bible is rich with stories of God’s closest followers doing things that the Pharisees would look at as sin – The Pharisees – followers of the law - are still very alive and well today – they live within our church walls, in our families, work, and social lives.  They’re the ones who haven’t been set free from the religious spirit that binds us like prisoners in a cell.  I’m not judging or condemning, rather drawing attention to a subject matter that the bible blows open through the testimony of Jesus, and in Kings, Queens and followers before his time.

The traditional mindset that holds by the rigid rules of the Ten commandments without room for error is where the religious spirit loves to reign, and frequently causes people to cast judgment on others.  But the bible says “There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. Living life by the Holy Spirit changes the authority from the bible back to God.  For the law of the Spirit of life has set you free in Christ Jesus from the law of sin and death.”  Romans 8:2  The spirit of life has set you free!  What is the Spirit of life?

-       The Spirit of life is a delivered, whole, healed Christian…

“But if Christ is in you, although the body is dead because of sin, the Spirit is life because of righteousness.  If the spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, he who raised Christ Jesus from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through his Spirit who dwells in you”.  Romans 8:10-11

-       The Spirit of life is driven by God as the first authority, the bible as the second…

“(God), who has made us sufficient to be ministers of a new covenant, not of the letter but of the spirit.  For the letter kills, but the spirit gives life.  Now if the ministry of death, carved in letters on stone, came with such glory that the Israelites could not gaze at Moses’ face because of its glory, which was being brought to an end, will not the ministry of the Spirit have even more glory?  For if there was glory in the ministry of condemnation, the ministry of righteousness must far exceed it in glory. 2 Corinthians 3:6-9

-       The Spirit of life is a renewed mindset…

“As for the one who is weak in faith, welcome him, but not to quarrel over opinions.  One person believes he may eat anything, while the weak person eats only vegetables.  Let not the one who eats despise the one who abstains, and let not the one who abstains pass judgment on the one who eats, for God has welcomed him.  Who are you to pass judgment on the servant of another?  It is before his own master that he stands or falls.   And he will be upheld, for the Lord is able to make him stand.  One person esteems one day as better than another, while another esteems all days alike.  Each one should be fully convinced in his own mind.  Romans 14:1-5

In order to be effective in the kingdom of Heaven, we first need to learn how to give out unconditional love.  Living life by the Spirit of God as opposed to through the legalistic books of law, opens us up to freely love as Christ did.  What does this look like in our world?  To me it means reaching across boundary lines previously set as danger zones.  It means seeing each person we encounter as a child of God and calling greatness out of those lives that we touch – no boundaries!  When I say no boundaries, typically Christians think to look into the impoverished areas of society – the poor, the dirty, as I’m sure noses might sneer at the though of caring for a smelly homeless person, but what about the other extreme.  Domestic violence effects not only the poor, there are men and women trapped in beautiful homes, tied to the chain of wealth that also need your love and ministry.  It’s easy to judge based on outward appearances and think we see where to be effective, but clothes and financial status are deceiving.

My pastor recently put it quite well that by following the bible and not allowing yourself to be led by first and foremost the spirit of God is opening yourself up for the demonic realm to be your guide.  Yes – you read that right – Christians know the bible – but so does the devil.  In Luke chapter 4, when Jesus was led out into the wilderness to be tempted for 40 days, the devil tempted him with scripture. Had he not been led by the spirit, God his father, receiving the kingdom offered or the food offered could have become a devastating stumbling block to all of humanity.  But Jesus – grounded in love, rooted in the kingdom of heaven and having direct communication with the father knew the deception and was not fooled by the illustrious gold that the devil was offering.  If we are to start loving on others, we need to come to an understanding that we don’t know the end from the beginning.  We don’t know the whole backstory of any individual that we encounter – nor do we know their futures.  But God does, like an engineer who planned us out from the beginning all the way through the end of time, God himself knows every second of every day, of every single story that happens to each and every individual here on earth – and until we have the power to do such a thing – judgment and assumptions against others must stop!  There is no way for any of us to understand the story that brings each of His children to salvation.  Because in the end – we are all his babies and he will get to us by any means necessary.  Bringing this back around to the topic of freedom in Christ,  freedom – is the absence of law, being of free will, and because of that freedom, allowing ourselves to be governed by the Holy Spirit.  Who of you knows that the Holy Spirit is a free spirit, moving and doing as it pleases to call each one of us and to guide each one of us into partnership and ruling with our one true God.  Because of being crucified, the veil that kept us from God was torn, allowing us to have full access to converse with God whenever we want to.  When an individual has an intimate and loving relationship with God, and is living by the spirit, being free in Him, He or she is guided and directed, and given knowledge into the secret things of God.  We become business managers for his kingdom, and unless you’re pressing in to him, hungering for him, and wanting more of him, those secrets will not be revealed to you.  But for those that do press in, the spirit leads us in directions that onlookers with their religious glasses on see as outside of the rulebook.  Prove it?  Yes – of course I will – look at some of the things that Jesus did – that drove the Pharisees wild with anger – they didn’t hate him for no reason – they hated him because he went against everything that they believed in – a rule breaker.  In Luke 5:12-16, Jesus, after healing a man of leprosy, tells the man to go show himself to a priest.  Reading this without the historical context of the bible, perhaps you wouldn’t know that lepers were complete outcasts of society – they weren’t allowed to be around people – in fact it was illegal – but Jesus told the man to go – seek out a priest – He told the man to break the law!  Not good enough for you?  Here is another proof…

Luke chapter 6, Jesus and his disciples are walking through a grain field – picking grain to eat, the Pharisees, witnessing what was happening on a Sabbath day asked “Why are you doing what is not lawful to do on the Sabbath?”  And Jesus answered “Have you not read what David did when he was hungry, he and those who were with him: how he entered the house of God and took and ate the bread of the Presence, which is not lawful for any but the priests to eat, and also gave it to those with him?”  And he said to them, “The Son of Man is lord of the Sabbath”.  Why was this a big deal?  What is so unlawful about picking wheat on the Sabbath?  In Jewish law, the Sabbath was a day of fasting and reverence to God – by breaking that “law” Jesus – according to the Pharisees was disrespecting the God that he claimed to be a son of.  How could he do that and get away with it?  How could Jesus so boldly – offend, and not have it considered sin?  What the bible gave to us as rules, Jesus came to set us free from – it was never God’s desire for us to live in bondage to rules.  Jesus had complete authority over the rulebook because of his direct line of communication with God.  He only did and said what God said was ok to do.  And that’s exactly how we ourselves ought to live.  Out of that loving relationship with the father, we are opened up to cross boundaries that religiosity keeps many in slavery to.   

Another example of Jesus breaking the Sabbath can be found in Luke 14:1-6, Jesus healed a man on the Sabbath and was criticized.  What if he never saw that man again – and the man died of his disease – If Jesus had walked away because it was the Sabbath, couldn’t he be accused of murder by association?  Wouldn’t that be the same as not taking away the keys from a drunk driver?  Knowing that if they drove home they could crash or kill someone else in an accident?
Think of all the rules that religion has put on people and the hurt that it has caused.  Religion has told us for centuries that women under men and are not to hold places of authority and power in the church.  Not true – women are created as equals to men – want me to prove that one?  Jesus had female disciples – no they’re not frequently mentioned – but look closely enough at scripture and you’ll find little glimmers of them dispersed throughout God’s word.  “And the twelve were with him, and also some women who had been healed of evil spirits and infirmities:  Mary, called Magdalene, from whom seven demons had gone out, and Joanna, the wife of Chuza, Herod’s household manager, and Susanna, and many others,”  Luke 8:1-3  If Jesus didn’t want them there, they wouldn’t have been there.  And they must have held a significance or they wouldn’t have been mentioned by name in the bible.  The part that amazes me about that verse is the spot that says – Joanna, the wife of Chuza, Herod’s household manager… When I chew on that – I wonder what great courage it must have taken for a servant in Herod’s household to break from his anti-Christ kingdom – and join Jesus so intimately as to be a disciple with him.

So what does this look like for you personally?  I am certainly not in authority to answer that question – but the God who is, is ready to answer those questions for you – being free in Christ is an amazing adventure full of things that not everyone can have – don’t you want to become a part of a secret society like that?  Imagine being sent on a mission that no one else is offered – because you listened, or being given a gift that no one else knew existed – because you listened.  How proud you make your papa when you can use your free will and in spite of that, choose to listen.  “for this purpose I was born and for this purpose I have come into the world – to bear witness to the truth.  Everyone who is of the truth listens to my voice.”  John 18:37, and again “If you abide in my word, you are truly my disciples, and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.”  John 8:32 Jesus is the word – the bible – is the word of God written in a book, but books – are just stories – the bible is special in that if offers us the living word – which still speaks and lives and breathes, but it is ultimately God who breathes life into those verses; because without him, all we have are words on a page to follow – but God has a journey planned out for your life that is way beyond your imaginations and intoxicating in its glory and excitement.  Not the typical picture of what a legalistic Christianity is, is it.?  What if your current walk with the Lord was less about how you perceive your ministry should be and allowing Jesus to develop your dreams and skills – and lead you into an abundantly blessed journey that is a constant mind blowing amazement into the wonders of God and the richness of His amazing kingdom?!  No more somber, depressing, BORING Christianity – choose to live life abundantly – that’s why Jesus came – “The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy.  I came that they may have life and have it abundantly.”  John 10:10, So choose life!  Ask Jesus how to have you live in the spirit – choose life and be free! 

Jesus – we have been a culture that for far too long have been tied up in religiosity – forgive us for that Lord and break us free from a civilization of slavery to rules and regulations, Lord forgive me for judging and using passages in your book to condemn others.  Show me how to live in complete freedom in you as you have laid out for me on the cross.  Thank you for taking the utmost of disgrace on the cross so that my sins don’t have to be laid out to bring disgrace in such a way.  Bring me life – release within me the power to love, and guide me with your Holy Spirit.  Jesus – I hear you calling me closer in relationship with you – bless me and fill me with a greater measure – poured out in all of your richness – In Jesus name Amen!

Wimp Or Warrior - Part 5 - When God say's "GO!"

 

Let me take a moment and set up the stage for you.  You’re in the military, special ops; you’re just about to make a raid on a building against an unknown amount of enemies.  You believe with all your heart in what you are doing and you have a mission to enter, and recover an item.  You stand at the edge of the door and wait, you wait for the call of your commanding officer and not until he says the word GO do you make a move.  You have been training, preparing, pushing yourself to get to this point where before you is an unknown ending, but you’re ready – because you are prepared for battle.

A little side note here, I work with a lot of military men and women – and am friends with many as well.  The men I work closest too just happen to be Marines.  I keep seeing a recurring theme with these men, and it intrigues me enough to liken their behavior to that of a warrior in the army of Christ.  When there is an obstacle, it seems that they instinctively find a way around it with whatever means necessary.  They take orders from their leader and they follow it, an obstacle is just a wall to climb.  I’m sure in the darkness of war, these brave men and women didn’t sit behind the warfront reading a book on the ins and outs of battle, they trained, and trained, and when the day arrived – they waited for the call to GO – and they did.

What are you choosing to listen to as your commanding officer?  The world, your job, the bible?

Here’s something that might wreck your theology… The world is not the commanding officer you should be following, and certainly your job is not a God you should be serving, not even the bible should be the ultimate authority in your life – if you are living out your faith by chasing after every word you read in the bible – you’re chasing death.  God is life – and God is the ULTIMATE authority.  A spirit filled believer is alive because of the spirit – not because of a book.  Raised by humans, and becoming products of our environments, we get so used to – and tied up in rules.  If you don’t do X the way the rule book says C is the result.  I’m not saying rules aren’t good to have, but what I am saying is that the more I learn about God and who he is, the more I’m learning that listening to him and his direction is proving to be way more powerful and rewarding than trying to find him in some random written texts.

Being a warrior for Christ is a lot like that.  We can read the rulebook and never get out of our comfy church pew, or we can be true warriors and go out into the world and do.

What holds many Christians back from doing what God is calling us to is the fear of what other people might think.  But if you are really ready and willing to follow after God with all of your heart there is one thing that you’re going to have to be ready for – opposition.  Our military doesn’t go into war without facing opposition – and neither do we.  Facing opposition is as necessary to battle as the training that leads up to it.  But why the battle – aren’t Christians supposed to be peace loving, kind and gentle pushovers?  Nooo – I think we established that in the first few blogs in this series.  If you didn’t read those yet, click on the links at the bottom of this page to catch up.   Let me challenge your thinking here for a minute – if you really feel Christianity is all about peace, and not about being tough, trained warriors, then you must also believe that the world is a safe place?  There are no predators that rape and molest, no murderers who kill just because you don’t have the right hair color?   No babies in war torn countries that are being sold into slavery and starving to death?  If none of that existed, we could provide earth with the “heaven on earth” as the bible declares it will be one day.  But for now, we are called to be warriors, we are called to face opposition, we are called to train so that when he says “GO” we will be ready.

I can only imagine what Jesus must have gone through when God said GO.  Leaving his heavenly throne to join us here on earth as a mere baby.  His first days were filled with being hidden from the horrible ruler Herod who wanted him murdered for fear of his great power.  Then throughout his thirty something years here on earth he was hated and mocked, and ultimately set up for crucifixion – all because he was following after God’s GO.  But he had a plan; he knew the end of the story.  Don’t you – when you know what an end result is going to be, find that you have the drive and willpower to get that job accomplished?  That’s what Jesus did.  Jesus endured all of that – just for you. 

So what “GO” do you think God is calling you to today?  Have you ever taken the time to get quiet with him and see where he wants to lead your life?  Do you really think that your life here is about being a “good person”?  Is that what you’re going to church for?  Don’t feel condemned by that – I’ve been there – I thought church was to make life perfect – if I did all the right things – I’d be blessed.  But I was missing the point.  This life is not about you – you were put on this planet to fulfill a purpose, a destiny, a calling.  Don’t say no to God because the people in your circle aren’t going to like your decision – be strong and courageous – do not be terrified – for the Lord your God will be with you WHEREVER you go!  There is no place on earth that God will send you to that he will leave you abandoned.  He is ALWAYS with you.

When God says Go – you might find that you’re breaking the natural rules that you have been holding on to – breaking off the legalism and freeing you to be who he is calling you to be

Maybe part of the problem is that you don’t know what the end result is like Jesus did.  The Go choice in front of you is a huge risk – it usually is.  But if it’s truly God calling you to it, the end result is definitely going to be worth it – and in your obedience He will bless you along the way.  God’s plan for your life is to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you a hope and a future.

 I have a challenge for you… knowing where I was as a baby Christian, the thought of hearing God’s voice was a bit foreign to me.  I thought God speaking was only something special that he did in the bible, to very special people.  I want you to know that YOU are hearing from God – and you are capable of having dialogue with him on an ongoing basis.  He is your best friend and your most amazing resource living right within you.  If you are not currently in a bible teaching, spirit filled church, I challenge you to search one out.  Start your journey of knowing who God is and honing in his voice within you.  Through the pages of the bible, you can start learning about who God is.  God is love, God is justice, God is peace. 

God is also the ultimate master of war and victory.  War games are not only physical, but mental. It’s time to change your mindset – change your perception and become empowered.  Fill your mind with the goodness of who God is and be blessed by the eternal sacrifice that he has laid out for you in Jesus Christ.  If you are weak minded and wishy washy, God has no use for you at this point of the battle front.  It’s time to get strong, its time to start training.  Do yourself and your destiny a favor and mark this day as a new starting point – set your focus on the victory marker on the mountaintop and start climbing.  Never lose your focus on what God has called you to – he didn’t give up when he marched himself to the cross to be slain to save you from a life in hell.  Your strength and your victory will give onlookers the power to start their own journeys and be set free from the bonds of hell that this world puts us in.  No more wimpy Christianity – you are called to be a warrior – you are called to fight!

Jesus!  YOU are the ultimate warrior – the ultimate example of victory – you trained – you fought – and you won!  And as a result we earn the benefits of your struggle – your holy spirit who resides within us.  Lord I pray that I can mark this day as a turning point in my life; that I can have you Jesus living within me – empowering me to become the mighty warrior that you have called me to be.  Open my spiritual ears to hear your voice and to have dialogue with you.  Help me to see the rewards that you have waiting for me – give me a focal point that grabs my attention so strongly that I will never want again what I may leave behind.  In the name of Jesus I have power and strength to push through the obstacles that lay ahead of me – and a strength and determination to get up if I get knocked down.  Surround me Lord with people who will support me when I am weak and cheer with me when I am strong.  Help me to realize that no matter what battle you are calling me to – that I am NEVER alone I my calling – that you Lord have a support unit for me.  You loved me enough God to send Jesus to rescue me – I ask for the fire of the holy spirit to ignite itself within me and give me the drive and the passion I need to accomplish your will.  In the powerful and victorious name of Jesus I pray – AMEN!

  

1.    http://laughingatyourreligion.blogspot.com/2013/12/wimp-or-warrior.html

2.  http://laughingatyourreligion.blogspot.com/2014/01/wimp-or-warrior-part-ii-slave-mentality_2.html

3.  http://laughingatyourreligion.blogspot.com/2014/01/wimp-or-warrior-part-3-girlz-n-daggerz.html

4.  http://laughingatyourreligion.blogspot.com/2014/01/wimp-or-warrior-part-4-first-royal.html

Wimp or Warrior - Part 4 -The First Royal Bodyguards

Fame is a game not everyone can play, but for the many that do – personal protection is not only a need, but also a must have.  Stalkers and paparazzi out for their own personal interest and gain, cause people in high powered positions to enter into situations that without the backup of well trained professionals, can lend to danger.  Perhaps one would think that professional body guarding is a newer profession, brought on in more recent centuries, but picking up a bible will show you that body guarding is as old as handwriting itself.  In fact, not only is body guarding biblical, so are getaway cars.  You think I’m making this up don’t you – seriously – getaway cars – in the bible – what kind of acid are you trippin’ on girl?  No seriously – take a look!

Jesus grew to draw a huge following.  In Mark 3, he is found performing miracles and people were paying attention.  People were pouring in from all over just to see and hear him.  Can you imagine going from a nobody to having flocks of people wanting to get to you?  The sheer mass of people led Jesus to need to make sure that he had an escape route so he could go and chill after a day of serving.  Being a loved/hated public figure, he needed some personal protection, and so he created out of his surroundings and made his twelve disciples into his own personal security agents.  In Mark 3:9 is where I will personally dub the first getaway car…  “Because of the crowd he told his disciples to have a small boat ready for him, to keep the people from crowding him.” Can you see it?  Jesus, in a crowd of people, the disciples with ear pieces and dark glasses standing around in watch, Jesus says his piece and quickly they escort him to the lake where the getaway boat is waiting and they speed off to – well – I guess the other side of the lake.  Ok ok – silly I know but really – it’s legit (well, minus the high tech gadgets)

Jesus – through his disciples, had his own personal protection agency.  Sure he is the Son of God – born of a virgin – that should have been all the protection he needed.  But perhaps we should look at what surrounded Jesus and open our eyes to see that Jesus too needed his own human source of protection.  I think that all too often in the church, men and women of God believe that God will protect them from the evils of the world, that nothing bad will happen to them because God protects his babies.  Well can I slap you with a stupid sticker on this one?  Look around – it doesn’t take a genius to see that evil does not discriminate between Christians and non-Christians.  If it did, then tell me why church shootings happen, why rape happens, or murders occur.  Why do homes get broken into, why do evangelists get death threats or their homes burned down?  If God is omnipresent and can be in all places at all times – why do these things happen?  Maybe it’s time to quit asking why and realize that they just do – and it’s our responsibility to co-labor with God and become protectors and warriors for his kingdom.  Are you one of those sheeple that think this way?  That war is not godly?  And defending the defenseless is not something we should be getting our hands messy with?  If that’s your opinion, then keep it to yourself because there are godly men and women that put their lives in danger every day to protect us from the threats that are there that will harm us.  Morally, war is difficult, the protection service is difficult, but our protectors need to know that we support them – and I for one will always defend their honor because of the battles that they have entered for my freedom.  Here are some scriptures to back up our back ups – be renewed in your mind sheeple!  “Praise be the Lord my rock, who trains my hands for war and my fingers for battle” Psalm 144:1,  “Learn to do good; seek justice, rebuke the oppressor; defend the fatherless, plead for the widow.”  Isaiah 1:17, “For he is God’s servant for your good.  But if you do wrong, be afraid, for he does not bear the sword in vain.  For he is the servant of God, an avenger who carries out God’s wrath on the wrongdoer.”  Romans 13:4.  Did you see a common thread throughout those scriptures?  Gods servant, God trains, defend the defenseless…  How else can God’s children be broken from slavery and brought to freedom if there is no one to fight for them?  The children in the sex trafficking industry – being bought and sold as prostitutes, 8-year-old girls being sold into marriage because her family is too poor to keep her.  Do you not think on that innocent girls side of the story?  Do you think at 8 she is ready for grown up sex or pregnancy?  Wake up!  This is your call – open your eyes to the hurt and dying world around you – and in whatever forms you can – become a defender.  If your child is being bullied at school, have them trained in self defense – at the very least, knowing how to defend themselves will empower them and give them confidence.  I did this with my daughters and they started befriending the bullies – and stood in the gap when these bullies tried to hurt their friends.  Little bodyguards.

The twelve disciples were the original royal bodyguards.  They learned and trained under the authority of Jesus.  Not only were they spiritually trained in the skill of the sword of the spirit – able to cast out demons and speak truth and perform miracles in power, they were also skilled in battle.  In this scene in Matthew 26:50-51, Jesus was about to get arrested before his crucifixion… “Then the men stepped forward, seized Jesus and arrested him.  With that, one of Jesus’ companions reached for his sword, drew it out and struck the servant of the high priest, cutting off his ear.”  Now I’ve never played with swords, or have been one to play with knives, but to have the skill to cut an ear off – doesn’t sound like this was this guy’s first sword fight.  And looking at the bigger picture here – Jesus was the Son of God – of all people, I wouldn’t expect him to need a bodyguard – but he had 12.  They had a purpose whether they knew it or not, and it was to keep Jesus alive until the day appointed to him be crucified. 

Jesus’ bodyguards – they certainly did lack in their recognition of the immense job that they had.  They stumbled through trainings, falling asleep when Jesus commanded that they stay awake.  They grew afraid during a storm when Jesus was peacefully resting; they betrayed him, which led to his arrest.  These amateur bodyguards certainly did not realize that they were protecting something so precious and valuable as the savior of the world. 

So why is it that Christians feel that fighting is wrong?  Guns are evil, and being prepared is evidence of a lack of trust?  I think it is because we are looking at the Jesus before the cross.  Misinterpreted scripture can point out faulty evidence that lends to thinking that we don’t need to do or shouldn’t do anything to protect ourselves.  That’s ok thinking if you’re a sheep – but if we are to truly become Christ like – shouldn’t we look at the Jesus that came to be after the cross?  The Jesus that revelations 1:14 declares as having fire in his eyes.  “his eyes were like blazing fire.  His feet were like bronze glowing in a furnace, and his voice was like the sound of rushing waters.  In his right hand he held seven stars, and out of his mouth came a sharp double edged sword.”  If that’s the Jesus that was created after the cross – and we are to become more Christ-like – then wouldn’t it deem to be true that we too should become warriors and fighters?  Filled with godly righteous anger, with painful truth coming from our tongue like a sword, built up and trained – and through our trainings become defenders of those who are unable to defend themselves?  The men and women and children of God who perhaps are unable to access the resources needed to learn how to protect themselves.  What about the part that says he has a sharp double-edged sword coming out of his mouth.  That to me says boldness – to be able to cut with your tongue by using words that are to the point and dare I say offensive.  “speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves,” Proverbs 31:8. This verse makes it sound to me like we have all been commissioned to be bodyguards.  Even just by speaking up for someone too afraid to speak out for themselves is protection. To become a person like that I would dare say that you’re going to make some enemies.

Ok, so break this all down to a personal level.  No you don’t need to run out and join the military or sign up for bodyguard school, but what about protecting your home?  Do you own a gun?  Do you know how to use it?  Oh wait – do you think owning a gun is not godly?  Wreck that with this… “He (Jesus) said to them, “But now if you have a purse, take it, and also a bag; and if you don’t have a sword, sell your cloak and buy one.”  Luke 22:36.  Why would Jesus himself tell people to buy a sword?  I prefer to use study bibles so that I can get perspective on verses that don’t make sense to me – and in the footnotes of my bible it explains his comment as this, “buy one, An extreme figure of speech used to warn them of the perilous times about to come.  They would need defense and protection”.  (Courtesy of Zondervan’s “The NIV Study Bible” 1985)  So if Jesus is telling us to buy a sword (obviously no – we cant walk around looking like a bunch of freaks yielding swords – not only would that totally freak people out but I’m sure – they’re not the easiest weapon to conceal) shouldn’t we take his direction and have some kind of weapon?  Look around you, it’s no secret that the world, our country, our neighborhoods are becoming ever more dangerous.  If an armed robber entered your home – how would you defend?  By calling the police?  Ok so he shoots you on the way to the phone – or after you hit the panic button on your house alarm – what good did any of that do?  Nothing!  You’re dead – and your house and loved ones are now in danger.  What could you have done to avoid this situation?  Train to be a warrior!  Become like the one who created you!  Discover more of the warrior that God is through this song of Moses from Exodus 15… “I will sing to the Lord, for he is highly exalted.  The horse and its rider he has hurled into the sea, The Lord is my strength and my song; he has become my salvation.  He is my god and I will praise him, my father’s God, and I will exalt him.  The Lord is a warrior; the Lord is his name.  Pharaoh’s chariots and his army he has hurled into the sea.  The best of Pharaoh’s officers are drowned in the red sea.  The deep waters have covered them; they sank to the depths like a stone.  Your right hand, O Lord, was majestic in power.  Your right hand, O Lord, shattered the enemy.  In the greatness of your majesty you threw down those who opposed you.  You unleashed your burning anger; it consumed them like stubble.  By the blast of your nostrils the waters piled up.  The surging waters stood firm like a wall; the deep waters congealed in the heart of the sea.  The enemy boasted, I will pursue, I will overtake them.  I will divide the spoils; I will gorge myself on them.  I will draw my sword and my hand will destroy them.  But you blew with your breath and the sea covered them.  They sank like lead in the mighty waters.  Who among the gods is like you, O Lord?  Who is like you – majestic in holiness, awesome in glory, working wonders?  You stretched out your right hand and the earth swallowed them.  In your unfailing love you will lead the people you have redeemed.  In your strength you will guide them to your holy dwelling.  The nations will hear and tremble; anguish will grip the people of Philistia.  The chiefs of Edom will be terrified, the leaders of Moab will be seized with trembling, the people of Canaan will melt away; terror and dread will fall upon them.  By the power of your arm they will be as still as a stone – until your people pass by, O Lord, until the people you bought pass by.  You will bring them in and plant them on the mountain of your inheritance – the place, O Lord, you made for your dwelling, the sanctuary, O Lord, your hands established.  The Lord will reign for ever and ever.”

Moses was defending the defenseless – he was leading people out of Egypt and headed for the Promised Land – and this created enemies.  But God had his back – just as he’ll have yours if you ever have to face battle.  Isaiah 55:17 says, “No weapon formed against you will prevail, and you will refute every tongue that accuses you.  This is the heritage of the servants of the Lord, and this is their vindication from me, declares the Lord”.  This verse clearly says that there will be weapons against you – but they will not prevail – how?  Because you will be a trained servant, protector, steward of what God has given to you to protect.  You have a call on your life to battle.  If you aren’t already, isn’t it time to prepare?

It’s an overwhelming task to consider.  Becoming personally responsible for the life of another human being.  It is definitely not a task for the faint at heart, nor for the weak minded.  But God has called you to be strong and courageous according to Joshua 1:7 “Have I not commanded you?  Be strong and courageous.  Do not be afraid; to not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.”  You have the tools at your hand to mentally prepare to get in the game.  God has provided you with spiritual armor, that as a warrior in the kingdom of heaven, we must put on daily to protect ourselves.  Ephesians 6:13 says “Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand.”  So just what does the armor of God consist of?  It’s nothing you can buy in a store – and it can only be purchased through prayer… “Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power.  Put on the full armor of God so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes.  For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms… Stand firm them, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace.  In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one.  Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.”  Ephesians 6:10-17

To see a perfect representation of the ultimate bodyguard, look to Jesus and his last days on earth.  He was guarded by men, but allowed himself to be put on the cross as an ultimate bodyguard to all of mankind.  The fiery dart of the enemy that wanted to kill him, he shielded from by willingly putting himself on the cross and refusing to allow his spirit to be taken over by the enemy.  He took punishment upon himself – punishment that was meant for us.  Jesus was our ultimate shield so that we wouldn’t get what we deserved.  He saw death aimed at us – and he stepped in the gap.  He left all that he had to come in to the slums of earth just to rescue us.  He left the kingdom of heaven and all of its glorious riches – and traipsed through the pits of hell to rescue – and came out victorious.  With Jesus living inside us – we are empowered to do the same.  We are empowered to venture into dark territory to rescue those who need our help.  Imitate the one who gave it all to rescue you.  It’s time to get our hands dirty, because there is a world out there that is silently dying in your absence.  Open your eyes and see it.  Your comfy lifestyle is hindering you from the reality that there is a broken and dying world out there – and God needs you to stand up and be strong – go to the nations and save his babies from the pain and torture they’re experiencing.  Don’t be afraid – he promises to be with you no matter where you go (Joshua 1:7) If the God of the universe is with you, and Jesus, the ultimate bodyguard lives within you, what greater empowerment will you need? 

God, you are the Lord of Lords and the King of Kings.  In your righteousness you call us your beloved, your cherished, your children.  Thank you for your peace that settles deep within us and calls to our spirits.  Renew our mindset to the kingdom mindset that you desire for us to have.  Prepare us for battles that lie ahead of us and make us aware of the real problems facing us and afflicting your children today.  Remove the veil that has been placed on our heads that blinds us from the truth that your babies are being hurt and need human protection - protection that you are calling on me to provide.  Bring me revelation to see what your call is on my life and give me discernment to see where I am called.  Provide me with the tools to protect who you send me to.  Remind me until it becomes a habit to put on my full armor every single day, and remind me of my authority in your kingdom until it becomes a lifestyle.   Give me the strength to stand up and say yes to your call God, to not be afraid, to become a defender, a protector, a strong and valiant warrior for your kingdom.  In Jesus name I pray, Amen.