If My People...

Ephesians 6:12-13 states, “For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places” (NKJV).

This is a world lost in darkness.  All across the world it seems like more and more violence erupts.  Leaders killing their subjects, religious zealots killing in the name of their gods, civilians rebelling against the authorities, and those sworn to protect us shooting first and asking questions later.  We do not see each other as God’s children but rather as races.  Whites, blacks, browns—classified by the color of our skin and where we came from.  We are divided, and the devil is laughing.

The devil laughs mostly at the Christians—we group of people whom God entrusted to spread the Gospel of His Son Jesus Christ unto all the world.  Instead, we are too busy being caught up in the war of race, greed, and political divide.  How can we rebuke the devil in the name of Jesus Christ when we use the devil’s weapons of warfare?

How many posts have I seen by my fellow Christians that plays the race card game?

Have you not read Galatians 3:28?

“There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is neither male nor female; for you ARE ALL ONE IN CHRIST JESUS” (NKJV, emphasis added).

How many posts have I seen by my fellow Christians that entice citizens to rebel against the authorities—police officers, politicians, and the like?

Have you read Romans 13:1-7?

“Let EVERY soul be subject to the governing authorities.  For there is no authority except from GOD, and the authorities that exist ARE appointed BY GOD.  Therefore, whoever RESISTS the authority RESISTS the ordinance of God, and those who resist will bring judgment on themselves” (1-2, NKJV, emphasis added—make sure you read all the way to verse 7 in your studies).

How many mean-spirited posts have I seen by my fellow Christians towards one another?

Have you not read Ephesians 4:31-32?  Romans 12:16-21?

Ephesians 4:31-32 states:

“Let all bitterness, wrath, anger, clamor, and evil speaking be put away from you, with all malice.  And be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God in Christ forgave you” (NKJV, emphasis added).

Romans 12:16-21 states:

“Be of the same mind toward one another.  Do not set your mind on high places (quit having an ego—you’re not always right), but associate with the humble (you should be humble as well).  Do not be wise in your own opinion.  Repay no one evil for evil.  Have regard for good things in the sight of all men.  If it is possible, as much as depends on you, live peaceably with all men.  Beloved, do not avenge yourselves, but rather give place to wrath; for it is written, “Vengeance is Mine, I will repay,” says the Lord.  Therefore,

“If your enemy is hungry, feed him;
If he is thirsty, give him a drink;
For in so doing you will heap coals of fire on his head.”

 Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good” (NKJV, emphasis added).

On and on I could go.  I am not trying to be judgmental but rather hold my fellow brothers and sisters up in accountability as we should do with one another.  The time for bickering like the world has got to stop, and it starts with me—it starts with you.

How do we change the world? 

First we accept that there is nothing we can do for the world.  It is on a direct course to destruction since the time God breathed this world into existence.  Instead we need to love our neighbor as yourself (Mark 12:31).  By loving those around us, it will encourage them to love others, and then it will spread like wildfire.

Those who practice hate know the wildfire effect to be true.  Just look at the mess that these riots cause.  What starts out as maybe a planned peaceful protest soon erupts into looting, beating, and acting like the criminals they swore the innocent never was.  This is because in their hearts is hatred, and it will not be contained.

Love is greater than hate, for it was Love whom stepped up before God and said, “Don’t punish them Father for what they’ve done.  Punish me.  I’ll take it all for them.”

See?  That is love.  That was Jesus Christ.  He is the one we are supposed to emulate; not the world.  We are not to loot, riot, scream at the leaders, nor call for their heads.  We are to be like Jesus.  If Jesus did not do it then we should not do it.  Remember, Jesus lived in a time where there was a more oppressive government than what we have now.  Yet Jesus did nothing against them.  Who are you wanting to be like today?

Second, we as God’s people must follow the Bible.  Not the writings of George Washington; not the philosophies of John Locke or Thomas Jefferson, but the spiritually written Word of God.  No if’s, and’s or but’s about it.  Either you believe in God and follow His Word, or Christianity is a religion for you so as to make you feel good about yourself.  It’s that narrow of a line (Matthew 7:13-14).

Third, we must realize that since this war we fight is against supernatural force there is only one way to fight it—prayer.  2 Chronicles 7:14-15 states, “If My people who are called by My name will humble themselves, and pray and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin and heal their land.  Now My eyes will be open and My ears attentive to prayer made in this place” (NKJV).

Notice it did not say “if My people will protest”, or “if My people will vote”, or even “if My people will take up arms”.  It said if God’s people (those who have accepted Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior) will humble (key word there—humility) themselves and pray.  You see, we have to stop leaning on our own understanding (Proverbs 3:5).  We have to trust in God.  We don’t trust Oprah or Dr. Phil nor Republicans, Democrats, Libertarians, and so on.  We trust in God.

“Oh but Josh, whatever will we do about there being a black, Muslim-looking President in the White House?”

What does the Bible say to do? (Psst… It says to pray for him by the way.)

“But-but Josh, what about the wicked authorities in place over us?”

What does the Bible say to do?

“Oh but-but-but…”

What does the Bible say to do?

If you want to make a change then we must do what Matthew 7:33 tells us:

“Seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you” (NKJV, emphasis added).

We are too busy worrying about the wrong things.  Jesus tells us in His Gospel as observed by Matthew that we need to put the kingdom of God first and foremost on our priority list.  That is it. Everything after that is already taken care of.  Who do you trust?  The politician others elect in the White House and you are forced to follow?  Or the Lord who gives you a choice to either follow Him or be of the world?  Where is the real freedom here?

I don’t have all the answers.  I really don’t.  What I do know is when I put God first in my life, all my worries and anxieties lessen.  My fears and uncertainties decrease.  Instead of hatred towards others there is only love, and I pray for them.  That is but a handful of things that occur when I put God first.

If God’s people would only pray…