Some Inspired thoughts from my friend - Patrick Bestall
Ephesians 6:12 For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.
Against ALL EVIL both foreign and domestic.
This I leave to God...that His Will be done. Sometimes I list things I am concerned about like abortion, human trafficking, corruption in all its forms and in all areas of life, personal sins, corporate sins, national sins, hatred, fear, stealing, bribery, globalism, and the occult in all its forms. "For we are not wrestling with flesh and blood [contending only with physical opponents], but against the despotisms, against the powers, against [the master spirits who are] the world rulers of this present darkness, against the spirit forces of wickedness in the heavenly (supernatural) sphere, Ephesians 6:12 - Amplified Bible Classic Edition
For a Christian Revival.
For us all to repent and to give our lives over to God and receive His Holy Spirit. If enough people (especially where two or three are gathered in His name, He is in the midst of them) pray in agreement then Jesus said: “I assure you, most solemnly I tell you, if anyone steadfastly believes in Me, he will himself be able to do the things that I do; and he will do even greater things than these, because I go to the Father. And I will do [I Myself will grant] whatever you ask in My Name [as presenting all that I Am], so that the Father may be glorified and extolled in (through) the Son.” John 14:12-13 – Amplified Bible Classic Edition
Finally, “For what does it profit a man to gain the whole world, and forfeit his life [in the eternal kingdom of God]?” Mark 8:36 – Amplified Bible Classic Edition
Allow me to add a perfect example of the last principle.
"It is a constant torture to me that I am still so far from Him whom I know to be my very life and being. I know it is my own wretchedness and wickedness that keeps me from Him."
- Autobiography of Mahatma Gandi
I'm looking at a page of notes I made about fighting like a Christian, several dozen scriptures, with everything from putting on the whole armor of God (Ephesians 6 does not include protection for your back because you're only supposed to flee from temptation), and Solomon's advice ("a time for war and a time for peace", "the race does not always go to the swiftest")...to a definition of being meek (Matthew 5 does not explain the Greek word "meek". It means “strong and disciplined”. Greek word for “meek” is “praus” (prah-oos΄) borrowed from the military and relates to horse training. “The Greek army would find the wildest horses in the mountains and bring them to be broken in. After months of training they sorted the horses into categories: some were discarded, some broken and made useful for bearing burdens, some were useful for ordinary duty and the fewest of all graduated as war horses. When a horse passed the conditioning required for a war horse, its state was described as ‘praus,’ [that is, meek]. The war horse had ‘power under authority,’ ‘strength under control.’ A war horse never ceased to be determined, strong and passionate. However, it learned to bring its nature under discipline. It gave up being wild, unruly, out of control and rebellious. A war horse learned to bring that nature under control. It would now respond to the slightest touch of the rider, stand in the face of cannon fire, thunder into battle and stop at a whisper. It was now ‘meek’.
I guess I said all I wanted to say above, but I must conclude with what a friend confirmed yesterday for me. We must prepare for persecution. Even when Trump wins the election there will be such a backlash such as there was after Jesus won his victory on the cross and thousands were powerfully converted.
The Messiah didn't come to fight the Romans; but the pact between Israel and Rome, made by the victorious Maccabee family, had soured and those who were not Christians brought down the wrath of the state upon everyone, and the wrath of unbelievers upon believers. Followers of the Way were caught in between angry authority and the angry public.
Good Jews like Mary and Joseph and Mary's son Jesus had their "Father's house" the temple to worship in, just like we have some good "congregations" to join, but corrupt people who had authority in the temple brought God's anger down in addition to the anger of the state and unbelievers. Simeon's prophecy over baby Jesus was fulfilled Luke 2:34, ‘This child is destined for the falling and the rising of many in Israel, and to be a sign that will be opposed 35so that the inner thoughts of many will be revealed—and a sword will pierce your own soul too.’ The Christians left town, went underground, and were fed to the lions, [joyfully singing praise to God].
1 Peter 4:17-18 KJV For the time is come that judgment must begin at the house of God: and if it first begin at us, what shall the end be of them that obey not the gospel of God? And if the righteous scarcely be saved, where shall the ungodly and the sinner appear?
So be we. Small in number but brave like Gideon's army. And, free from the yoke of any government, we hold hands together, weak and strong, to win by invoking the blood of the Lamb and the Word of our testimony which is sharper than any two-edge sword. Angels and saints above, praying for us.
.pb
"My peace I give unto you, not as the world gives" -Jesus
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