Did Jesus teach his disciples to carry weapons to defend themselves (Luke 22:36)?

The same Jesus said for sure that "they that take the sword shall perish with the sword" (Matthew 26:52). He said nothing to his disciples about taking weapons to save their lives so as to "endure to the end" (Matthew 10:22). But he assured them that many of them would be put to death, even being betrayed by their brethren (Matthew 10:21). Nothing about taking physical arms for protection against such things. The apostle Paul also said, writing to saved people who are led by the Holy Spirit:

2 Corinthians 10:4-5
4 (For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds;) 5 Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ;

There is no obedience of Christ in taking weapons to fight one's enemies:

John 18:36
Jesus answered [to Pilate], My kingdom is not of this world: if my kingdom were of this world, then would my servants fight, that I should not be delivered to the Jews: but now is my kingdom not from here.

Jesus taught his followers:

Matthew 5:44-45
44 But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them who despitefully use you, and persecute you; 45 That you may be the children of your Father who is in heaven: for he makes his sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the righteous and on the unrighteous.

Why not be reminded of that rather than thinking to be ready to blow someone's brains out?

Murder is a work of the flesh that disqualifies someone from entering the kingdom of God. Already saved people who were led by the Holy Spirit were amply warned of that fact, so they wouldn't by any means be deceived into thinking they could live as murderous saints, starting in their hearts (Mark 7:21), and still have a shot at inheriting eternal life (Galatians 5:21, 1 Peter 4:15, 1 John 3:15, Revelation 21:8, Revelation 22:15).

A born again Christian who would think lightly of shedding a person's blood like Cain who killed his brother is in grave danger. That person is close to having no spiritual pulse, to put it mildly. Is that proof of the love that has grown cold (Matthew 24:12)? There is no salvation or assurance of salvation to speak of on such a path.

Keep in mind that Jesus knowingly sent out his disciples into the world as sheep in the midst of wolves (Matthew 10:16). And He told them nothing about needing to have a bodyguard or to be one’s own bodyguard (for personal security’s sake). But He taught them this:

Matthew 10:28
And do not be afraid of those who kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul. Rather, fear him who is able to destroy both soul and body in hell [Gehenna].

That’s a word that is meant to instill in the hearer a massive change of focus from surviving in this blood-bathed world (trying to save one’s skin) to staying on the path to eternal life by fearing God and therefore remaining obedient to Him in all until the end, without seeking exceptions.

Ecclesiaste 12:13
Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God, and keep his commandments: for this is the whole duty of man.

So, what's with this Luke 22:36?

It reads:

"Then said he unto them, But now, he that has a purse, let him take it, and likewise his bag: and he that has no sword, let him sell his garment, and buy one."

The answer is really not that far. Luke 22:37 reads:

"For I say unto you, that this that is written must yet be accomplished in me, "And he was reckoned among the transgressors [lawless ones]": for the things concerning me have a fulfillment."

It was necessary for Jesus to be regarded as a transgressor, as much as the two other people who were put to death alongside him (Luke 23:32). Also, two (2) swords being deemed enough (Luke 22:38) for Jesus and his disciple doesn’t hold water in making the case for self-defense for his followers in the way the 2nd Amendment of the US Constitution affords it to a US citizen, for instance (comp. Philippians 3:18-21).

This is the prophecy that needed to be fulfilled:

Isaiah 53:12
Therefore will I divide him a portion with the great, and he shall divide the spoil with the strong; because he has poured out his soul unto death: and he was numbered with the transgressors; and he bore the sin of many, and made intercession for the transgressors.

That's it! No deep ideology about bearing arms and using them against one's enemies. And if you're a follower of Jesus, may you increase in clarity on who are your enemies who are surely coming for you in ways you haven't seen before. Are you ready?

Concluding Remarks:

Romans 8:5-9
5 For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit, the things of the Spirit. 6 For the mind set on the flesh is death, but the mind set on the Spirit is life and peace; 7 because the mind set on the flesh is hostile towards God, for it does not submit to God’s law; indeed, it cannot. 8 And those who are in the flesh cannot please God. 9 But you are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if it is so that the Spirit of God dwells in you. But if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he does not belong to him.

See also:
For God and Country - video 

Testimonies for the Atheist vs Demonstrable Evidence by the Scientific Method

Testimonies are the kind of examinable things that are accepted every day in courts of law. They are presumed to express a reality experienced by a witness. Rejecting a testimony without consideration is akin to suppressing reality or facts because of the way they are being communicated. It's like, for instance, a judge would refuse to hear witnesses that are ready to testify in a case because there is no video evidence supporting what they would be testifying about. But these witnesses can be examined, their backgrounds can be checked, their motives can be evaluated, and then a right judgment can be exercised. These are all ways that a person seeking to establish the truth could employ, versus demanding a kind of evidence that is not part of the precise case at hand to begin with. And taking that later course would mean rejecting evidence that is available albeit through the admission of a testimony.

Spiritual truth, in particular, can only be apprehended by faith, not by any scientific method. That's the path to know God, beyond knowing about God through the evidence of the things He has created. An explorer who sincerely wants to learn about sea mammals doesn't start out denying that the sea is a thing and heading toward the forest. Likewise, advancing that nothing exists that has been created by God is intellectual dishonesty that stops the genuine pursuit of truth without giving the appearance of insincerity concerning such pursuit. It's elementary fact suppression to clear the way to assert that there is nothing that can be known or demonstrated about God. And from that follows the conclusion that God cannot be known or does not exist. But faith comes from what is heard about God.

What is heard about God is itself a testimony. Those who can testify that they know God will also hold true that He has communicated to mankind through a precise form: his word. The Bible is a record of God's communication to mankind through the writings of his servants. And He has laid out the precise way to approach Him:

"Therefore, putting away all filthiness and overflowing of wickedness [that's repentance], receive with humility the implanted word, which is able to save your souls. But be doers of the word [that's faith], and not only hearers, deluding your own selves. (James 1:21-22)

... "God resists the proud, but gives grace to the humble. Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. Draw near to God, and He will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners; and purify your hearts, you double-minded." (James 4:6‭-‬8)

"For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation to all people, instructing us to say “No” to ungodliness and worldly desires, and to live soberly, righteously, and godly in this present age; looking for the blessed hope and appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ; who gave Himself for us, that He might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify for Himself a people for his own possession, zealous for good works." (Titus 2:11-14)

Humility is key in one’s approach to God (that's a personal trait rather than a scientific apparatus). That statement can be evaluated for its investigative worthiness. A truth-seeker should not simply accept any statement as true. That is not what faith is about. But carefully considering the thing heard is the path to have any kind of faith. That implies trusting the message-bearer or, at the least, giving him/her the benefit of the doubt. That will be the way to progress to what will be personal, irrefutable, evidence of God’s existence: knowing Him because He has been pleased to reveal Himself to you who sought Him on his terms, that is, according to his word.1

Jesus who is the Word of God that appeared in the world in the form of a man was seriously challenged for his claims while He walked on the earth. This can be learned from what is written about Him in the Bible. Jesus made this statement to people who had their doubts, as you may have yours about Him today: “My teaching is not mine, but his who sent me. If anyone desires to do his will, he will know about the teaching, whether it is from God, or if I am speaking from myself.”2 Thus, taking Jesus at his word is then a clear path to have proof that what He taught is true and not myths to add to the many that are already being propagated on the earth, even through formal education. And taking that route has its requirements.

A prerequisite to seeking to know the provenance of Jesus' teaching and what that would imply is the humility to recognize God’s sovereignty. And that’s already beyond the question of his existence. Hearing that God’s existence is being called into question is, for a servant of God, like being married and hearing the denials of others that one has a spouse or knows anything about the intimacy attached to having such a spousal relationship. Thus, coming to know God, there is a way to that; but needing to establish that He exists is not God’s concern for anyone who doesn't know Him yet.3 

The attitude of a person who decides to approach God is therefore important. Jesus does refrain from revealing Himself to the random person who wants to check Him out. There is no seriousness in such an approach, while what He is looking for is a relationship like a marriage founded on love and faithfulness. The readiness to be in total submission to the King of kings cannot be excluded. Denominations do start by people who take the Christian name and embrace what they like about the teachings of Jesus or simply twist them. So, the truth must be sought, and it will be found by those loving it; it will save them.4 A good and honest heart is necessary to move forward.5 Therefore, when God opens the door for a relationship with Him, He expects reverence and that one offers to Him a heart that is ready to obey Him in all. That's a sacrifice. That's the real giving of one's life to God. And that's the only way to come to know God intimately - not unlike a husband knows his wife and vice versa. God will only come to be on the throne of one's heart where room has been made for Him in response to the way He has commanded that He should be approached: through repentance and faith in Jesus.

  

[You know] how I did not hold back from declaring to you anything that was profitable, and teaching you publicly and from house to house, testifying both to Jews and to Greeks repentance toward God, and faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ. (Acts 20:20-21)

1. John 14:21
2. John 7:16-17
3. Romans 1:19
4. John 8:31-36, 1 Timothy 2:1-5, 2 Thessalonians 2:8-12
5. Luke 8:8, 15

Note: This is not creative writing.

Seek and Find Jesus
(YouTube playlist)

Revelation 12:11

They overcame him by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony; and they did not love their life, even to death.

By the word of their testimony... (Revelation 12:11) 
(YouTube playlist)

The Jesus Train

The opportunity to get out of Sodom before fire rains down or to enter Noah's ark before the flood is passing by you today, like a long long long freight train, going slow enough for you to hop on board. But you won't recognize it or pay it any mind. Why? Because it's Jesus that you are refusing to see for who He is. You know about Jesus, that's not the issue. But you don't recognize Him as the Lamb of God who sacrificed his life for you so that He could be your Savior. You would have to believe that you need to be saved from something to begin with. And that gets us talking about your sins, something that has the potential to shatter your "good" self-image. But facing the truth is the only way for you, even being like a camel, to go through the eye of a needle, because God makes that possible when you humble yourself before Him and offer Him a heart that is ready to obey Him in all.

Matthew 7:13-14
13 Enter in by the narrow gate; for wide is the gate and broad is the way that leads to destruction, and many are those who enter in by it. 14 But narrow is the gate, and narrow/constricted is the way that leads to [eternal] life and few are those who find it.

You don't like the freight train analogy for Jesus? The truth is that you are already on a luxury train to destruction, as part of the biggest slave trade that's going on in this world right now, and it has nothing to do with your ethnicity or social status. Being a slave of sin, and by proxy, a servant of Satan, doing his will for you on earth rather than God's, that's what Jesus saves you from.

John 8:31-36

31 Jesus therefore said to those Jews who had believed Him, “If you remain in my word, then you are truly my disciples. 32 And you will know the truth, and the truth will make you free.” 33 They answered Him, “We are Abraham’s descendants, and have never been in bondage to anyone. How can you say, ‘You will be made free?’” 34 Jesus answered them, “Truly I tell you, everyone who commits sin is the slave of sin. 35 A slave does not live in the house forever. A son remains forever. 36 So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed.

Jesus commissioning the apostle Paul:

Acts 26:15-21

15 “I said, ‘Who are you, Lord?’ “He said, ‘I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting. 16 But arise, and stand on your feet, for I have appeared to you for this purpose: to appoint you a servant and a witness both of the things which you have seen, and of the things which I will reveal to you; 17 delivering you from the people, and from the non-Jews, to whom I send you, 18 to open their eyes, that they may turn from darkness to light and from the power of Satan to God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins and an inheritance among those who are sanctified by faith in me.’ 19 “Therefore, King Agrippa, I was not disobedient to the heavenly vision, 20 but declared first to them of Damascus, at Jerusalem, and throughout all the country of Judea, and also to the non-Jews, that they should repent and turn to God, doing works worthy of repentance. 21 For this reason the Jews seized me in the temple, and tried to kill me.

The cost of following Jesus/being his disciple is your most valuable possession: your life. You have heard of giving one's life to Jesus. Well, that's it. There are phony ways of doing that too that cost you nothing, but God isn't fooled by that. So, see to it that you don't get deceived nor deceive yourself. Dig for the truth like gold, don't just sleep to the voice of a well-spoken preacher (that's not striving to enter through the narrow door).

Luke 13:24

Strive to enter in by the narrow door, for many, I tell you, will seek to enter in, and will not be able.

What narrow door? Who are not able to enter? Why? How do you strive to enter since Jesus said you must do that? Be on a quest to understand these things and that will be your path to connecting essential dots and heeding God's guidance by the light of his word. Otherwise, you won't be a disciple of Jesus and you will be walking in darkness and heading to destruction by default.

John 8:12

Again, therefore, Jesus spoke to them, saying, “I am the light of the world. He who follows me will not walk in the darkness, but will have the light of life.”

See also:
Freedom From Sin

Is Repentance Just a Change of Mind?
 
Suffer The Cross To Overcome Addictions

Bible Study on Sin

The Great Tribulation

The Day I Shouted "HalleluYah!" (Book)

In The Day I Shouted "HalleluYah!", Giscard Nazon recounts the unexpected way he has started to praise God and shares what a treasure that novel experience has been to him. By explaining the interactions with God that have shaped his mindset about God and what he believes may come from his relationship with Him, Giscard conveys what it means to be a disciple of Jesus. He is transparent about his relationship with God, highlighting its beginning and moments of its growth in addition to showing how the relationship influences his thoughts and stances on various subjects with which Christians may be concerned. Although the book is initially autobiographical, Giscard also directs his attention to the edification of believers, the defense of the faith, evangelism, and even offers a candid approach to the question of God’s existence. Giscard’s writing shows a personal touch that exhibits his own relationship with Jesus and invites the reader to further inquire into the reality of having such a relationship for themselves.

Paperback and e-book (Kindle) formats are available from Amazon.

Download the PDF format here.

HalleluYah cover painting by Nancy Cupp, visit NancyCupp.com.

Excerpts:

 

TRUST CHECK (video)

THE CROSS (video)

 

See also:

Connecting with God through Jesus (2021)

Encounter with the Unfathomable (2017) ♫♪

Counting the Cost of Pornography Addiction

This message is for anyone who is bound in porn addiction. Imagine that you had to pay to watch porn. Did you ever consider that with money in your hands, you would just pay for it to satisfy your lust? Did you consider that you would be blind to others around you that don't have money for their needs while you go and spend your money on porn? Did you consider that you would as well neglect your own family's present and future needs because of your investments in porn? Did you consider that you would be totally driven by selfishness because serving and pleasing yourself would have taken priority over serving and pleasing God? Are these things actually true of you right now? 

Do you realize that you will give an account to Jesus for every cent that has passed through your hands? Now, you don't worry about money because the devil has made porn available to you for free. But you are still buying it. Loads of it for $0.00! Someone who wants you to die won't make it hard for you to get your hands on poison, especially if you are already calling that poison a "good thing." I guess we could get technical and get a cost from the portion of your phone data plan and maybe electricity use that goes into supporting your evil desire to watch porn. But the cost of that sin is your most precious possession, which is your own life (cf. Mark 8:36-37), because sin leads to death (James 1:13-15, Romans 6:23). 

And what's being presented to your mind through your porn watching is a counterfeit. It's not really what your soul thirsts for. God did not create you for porn to be what you feed on. It's like eating fake food greedy people have made in their laboratories to sell and neglecting to eat natural food God has made for humans to feed on. And that feeding on porn counterfeit also has nothing to do with love, when God commands us and says, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all  your mind and with all your strength, and your neighbor as yourself.”

Now I speak this to men in particular: How are you loving the woman on your screen who ended up on the set of porn movies, seeing she is lost? Would you watch your sister if she ended up on porn movie sets? When you find nothing wrong enough with porn watching to turn you away from it for good, you are actually not far at all from that horrible thought. Because the more you reject agreeing with God about what's good and what's evil, the easier it becomes for you to call more evil things good and more good things evil, until you reach a point of possibly no return. God Himself lets you have more of the wickedness that you keep showing Him that you love (see Romans 1:18-32) and that, of course, will lead to your total ruin or perdition. 

That woman on your screen is still someone's daughter, sister, niece, granddaughter... Let's consider again that you had to pay to watch her, and that she eventually got some of your money as her income, do you think she doesn't deserve better than that? Aren't the word to save her soul and prayers to have her eyes opened and be rescued from that life more important than your money? Can you love that person and be praying for her and at the same time be contributing to her staying in the bondage of the porn industry? See, you are both in bondage, not free in Christ. She needs to have her eyes opened, be brought from darkness to light and from the power of Satan to God (Acts 26:18) and so do you. You need to get saved as much as she does! Because you haven't seen the salvation of Jesus Christ or you have despised it and regarded the pleasures of sin as more precious than fellowship with God in the light (1 John 1:5-7,  John 3:19-21). You are not following Jesus, the light of the world, so you are walking in darkness (John 8:12) on the broad way that leads to destruction (Matthew 7:13). You cannot call Jesus your Lord and Savior when you are being disobedient to Him and sinning (1 John 3:8):

Luke 6:46
Why do you call me ’Lord, Lord,’ but do not do what I say?

Matthew 7:21
Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. 

John 3:36
Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life; whoever does not obey the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God remains on him.

You cannot get saved as long as you don't think you need to. But the reality is that you do need to. You do not belong to Jesus Christ. Let it hit you. You are not led by his Spirit (Romans 8:9). You are led by your flesh that you have not crucified (Galatians 5:24). It's practical. "There is no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus, who do not walk according to the flesh but according the the Spirit" (Romans 8:1). That is not you. That can't be true of you until you do repent and receive the Holy Spirit (Acts 2:38) and do walk according to the Spirit (Galatians 5:16, Romans 8:12-13). Then the Spirit of God in you also won't lead you to find satisfaction in porn. You will rather be led to pursue righteousness and holiness (Ephesians 4:17-24), and you will turn to Jesus to heal all the brokenness in you. You will be led to give to Jesus all your burdens, and not turn to porn or any other thing you want to live for because of whatever good you think you get out of it (based on a lie that you have believed). You need to first come clean with God and stop calling evil good and good evil (Isaiah 5:20). If you are calling porn "good" even if it's 1% of your heart that loves it, it still means you don't hate it 100% like God hates all sin, so you are "buying" that stuff without money to finance your own slavery to it; and you can't get delivered from it because you are not demonstrating to God with all your heart that you want to be delivered. God calls you to make up your mind. I am speaking the truth to you. I am not condemning you, I am telling you what’s keeping you under condemnation, as you are still being disobedient to God and under his wrath (John 3:36; Colossians 3:6), being still caught in the devil's death trap of sin (2 Timothy 2:26). And if you know that I don't speak for you and you know that you had been saved from bondage to sin, realize that you are now a slave of sin (again) and a slave doesn't remain in the house forever (John 8:34-36). You need to genuinely repent and be saved from that death trap of sin! Truth establishes reality. The truth sets you free from sin (John 8:31-32). Lies that you believe about you or about the goodness of porn for you (or others involved in it at any level) maintain you in your delusion and bondage to sin that leads to death (not to eternal life). You have idols in your heart and God cannot accept your worship until you repent and throw down with your own hands those idols that are in your heart. Take them and break them! Then your faith in God can be pure and you will be blessed of the blessing Jesus came to bring into the world (Acts 3:26). Come clean with God because He expects you to and because you are able to if you want to. Your only hindrance is loving your sin more than God. Face that truth and repent (do the right thing) or you will face God when you can't repent anymore (Revelation 22:11-12). This is an urgent plea!

James 4:8
Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners; and purify your hearts, you double-minded.


May Jesus bless you!



See also:

‘I was raped at 14, and the video ended up on a porn site’

 

Is free porn online actually free? The abuse behind the industry

 

Online porn videos of missing teen lead to man's arrest

 
Pornhub Exposed as #Traffickinghub

Freedom From Porn Addiction - YouTube playlist

Confession to One Another or Repentance unto Salvation?

Is Repentance Just a Change of Mind?

Crucify the Flesh - YouTube playlist

Freedom From Sin

 

"You're gonna answer for your crimes against God*... Sin is not a calamity you were born in, it's a choice that you made to rebel against God." 

- Mike DeSario, 'Darkness and Light'
*If you don't repent and become a committed follower of Jesus (a believer or disciple of Jesus according to the Bible's definition)

ADDITIONAL EXHORTATION

Put forth whatever effort becomes clear to your mind that you must put forth to become a servant of God, because you are putting forth an effort into being a servant of sin, and through that, a servant of the devil. You have a choice to make about that right now. Don't wait on any answer to prayer that would cause you to be changed suddenly if you are not doing what God wants you to be doing (James 4:7-8). The process to get free starts with you agreeing 100% with God about what is good and what is evil and resolving to turn away from evil as He commands (Isaiah 5:20, Isaiah 55:6-7, James 1:21-22). You need God's word, which is truth, to be in you (Psalm 119:11). You can't fight the battle against sin, the flesh and the devil with human reasoning alone. You are likely then to only go on feeding your addiction with the lies you continue to believe. Eve sinned because she chose to believe a lie. There is nothing different today when anybody goes and sins deliberately, wether it's a one time thing or a habit. You sin, you die (Romans 6:23a, James 1:13-15). Don't believe a lie. That's God's word. Don't explain it away, don't let anyone explain it away for you. You are accountable to God for your choice to sin rather than to deny yourself, take up your cross to follow Jesus (Mark 8:34) [video].

Freedom From Sin

 

Be deliberate to put God's word in you. He will guide you in all!

Psalm 119:11
I have hidden your word in my heart that I might not sin against you.
 
Psalm 139:23-24
23 Search me, O God, and know my heart: try me, and know my thoughts: 24 And see if there is any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.
 
Psalm 51:10
Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me.
 
God supplies by his grace all the power we need to live for Him (Titus 2:11-14, Romans 6:1-2, 12-15, 1 Peter 4:1-3, 2 Peter 1:2-11, James 4:6-10). His grace saves us from the power of sin.
 
Be willing to dig deep (Luke 6:48) as you build a solid foundation of God's word in you. And by the grace of God you will be overcoming sin. Don't go with a mindset that anything is going to be quick and easy as Jesus has said to "strive [make every effort] to enter through the narrow door..." (Luke 13:24). But as you draw near to God and do so wholeheartedly (that's the key), He will draw near to you (James 4:8).


Please read:
Is Repentance Just a Change of Mind?
Repentance, along with faith in Jesus, is the way through which we come into a relationship with God and receive the healing our soul needs (cf. Luke 5:31-32, Acts 20:20-21).
 
Please listen to these messages: 
Salvation From Sin - video

You Are Accountable to Repent -  video

Self-denial and Taking up One's Cross to Follow Jesus (Mark 8:34) / Crucify the Flesh (video playlist)

Resist Temptation & Break Free from Addiction - video

Connecting with God through Jesus (Book)

Struggling with Sin? (video playlist)

Please use this as guidance for prayer:
How To Pray

Be encouraged and may you find the new life in Jesus Christ and peace (Romans 6:4, 8:6)! 

 

 

Enduring Spiritual Oppression

I want to share a bit of my experience with what I have been comfortable calling oppression. That's a state that is temporary and depends on precise circumstances that I can usually identify. It may be an instance of harassment, the receipt of a suggestion that violates my convictions (and directs me away from the obedience I know God has called me to), a perception of being disconnected from the love of God (due to a lack of hearing his voice and receiving his guidance for a while), weariness in waiting on God for sure promises of his word, etc. It's the "valley" experiences that I know by experience will be followed by a restoration. I just need to have faith that I'm going to get better and I always do, even delighting in God (Psalm 37:5) and overflowing with joy.

Audio: https://www.dropbox.com/s/b2zyafq8yy6gc1f/YesToTheTruth%20-%20Enduring%20Spiritual%20Oppression.mp3

The process to get me "back up" is all internal. No change in my circumstances really shield me from experiencing oppression for the same reasons or others, but I come to rise above these temporary circumstances, or rather, escape their pinch, somehow. Usually, I get there after a time of prayer and hearing the word (audio Scriptures), mostly certain Psalms that actually reflect how I feel. These Psalms affirm God's promises to his people, make mention of disappointments or afflictions and usually end in praise. At those times of oppression, I am also often too weak to read, so I have some pre-recorded prayers that I can say and hear without opening my mouth. I have written prayers so I do not lose sight of certain things in my life that I want to keep bringing to God's attention like the widow of Jesus' parable in Luke 18. I update them as I receive direction to do that or when my circumstances evolve (including prayers being answered). So, after a time with God, my spiritual "dashboard" would reflect that all is well and I would no longer feel down nor irritable.

My recovery also often takes the form of sacrifices of praise and thanksgiving, made easier through short songs that are my own. Singing or humming them functions like playing a spiritual instrument for the glory of God. Besides songs of thanksgiving and praise, there is a third type that I sing (or hum or listen to a recording of) in those times and it is about reminding myself of God's sovereignty over my life. I am encouraged to persevere under affliction and I progress to a place of peace. I am led by the Spirit to either praise, give thanks or remind myself of who is in control —it's not a choice I make; I just find myself in one of those three "modes" and stay in it for a while. Eventually, the atmosphere within me changes for the better. And what happens in the background, I think, is simply that my assurance of God's love and care for me rises in my heart despite trying circumstances that are speaking some lies to me. To me, that's spiritual warfare.  

I am usually more or less aware that the disturbance I have suffered in my peace has come from the way I have responded to some afflicting circumstances. And I come to think that I could have mitigated that disturbance with a more appropriate response as the sufficient grace of God is supplied to me (2 Corinthians 12:9). But in weakness, I do get down and need to rise back up. I understand I need to use God's grace to humble myself more in some areas, for instance, in my interactions with some people; I need to deny myself more to not take offense, especially when I get grieved by a repeated conversation or behavior; and I also need to be able to endure an ongoing unpleasant situation with joy and thanksgiving. 

The context for all this is that I am in a season of trials in my life where I experience spiritual highs and lows. My times of oppression are getting less frequent and are like passing dark clouds. I feel God has equipped me to navigate those circumstances better and better and I believe I am not experiencing anything random. I am even sure that I am living through answered prayers and there is a purpose in my afflictions while I walk with God in this season of my life. 

Lastly, I have not researched in depth the nuances between what I call oppression and depression, but I just know I have not experienced certain states of mind that border on despair of life and somehow that's my perception of depression at this time (before getting better informed on depression).

I pray this helps somebody in the body of Christ.

John 16:33
I have told you these things, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer. I have overcome the world.

See also:

Fighting Worry-Causing Thoughts

Anxiety and Depression Recovery  - YouTube playlist

Trusting God - playlist

Outlook in Difficult Situations

How to Pray

Trials and Tribulations

Commentary on the The Large Catechism (Martin Luther) with Respect to The Call to Repentance

Large Catechism ¹
Part Second: Of the Creed.
Article III.
54] We further believe that in this Christian Church we have forgiveness of sin, which is wrought through the holy Sacraments and Absolution, moreover, through all manner of consolatory promises of the entire Gospel. Therefore, whatever is to be preached concerning the Sacraments belongs here, and, in short, the whole Gospel and all the offices of Christianity, which also must be preached and taught without ceasing. For although the grace of God is secured through Christ, and sanctification is wrought by the Holy Ghost through the Word of God in the unity of the Christian Church, yet on account of our flesh which we bear about with us we are never without sin.

55] Everything, therefore, in the Christian Church is ordered to the end that we shall daily obtain there nothing but the forgiveness of sin through the Word and signs, to comfort and  encourage our consciences as long as we live here. Thus, although we have sins, the [grace of the] Holy Ghost does not allow them to injure us, because we are in the Christian Church, where there is nothing but [continuous, uninterrupted] forgiveness of sin, both in that God forgives us, and in that we forgive, bear with, and help each other.

56] But outside of this Christian Church, where the Gospel is not, there is no forgiveness, as also there can be no holiness [sanctification]. Therefore all who seek and wish to merit holiness [sanctification], not through the Gospel and forgiveness of sin, but by their works, have expelled and severed themselves [from this Church].

The Scriptures:
Romans 6:4-7
4 We were buried therefore with him through baptism to death, that just like Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, so we also might walk in newness of life. 5 For if we have become united with him in the likeness of his death, we will also be part of his resurrection; 6 knowing this, that our old self was crucified with him, that the body of sin might be done away with, so that we would no longer be in bondage to sin. 7 For he who has died has been freed from sin.

Why not preach the cross that brings that death to sin and freedom from sin indeed? That's the basis for walking with God as a new creation, in holiness and righteousness all our days (Luke 1:75; Ephesians 4:20-24), not build upon a foundation of bondage to sin still.

John 8:34-36
34 Jesus answered them, "Truly I tell you, everyone who commits sin is the slave of sin. 35 A slave does not live in the house forever. A son remains forever. 36 So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed.

1 John 3:6-9
6 Whoever remains in him does not sin. Whoever sins hasn't seen him, neither knows him. 7 Little children, let no one lead you astray. He who does righteousness is righteous, even as he is righteous. 8 He who sins is of the devil, for the devil has been sinning from the beginning. To this end the Son of God was revealed, to destroy the works of the devil. 9 Whoever is born of God does not commit sin, because his seed remains in him; and he cannot sin, because he is born of God.

The Gospel that Jesus has delivered to the world to be preached to all brings about the destruction of the "works of the devil" (1 John 3:8) in the life of the believer/disciple of Jesus. It open eyes, brings from darkness to light and from the power of Satan to God (Acts 26:18; 2 Timothy 2:26). That's the foundation that is established through repentance and faith in Jesus (Acts 20:20-21).

A path of righteousness is established on the basis of a departure from unrighteousness in answering the call to repentance, and the continuity of obeying Jesus faithfully (that is faith), empowered by God's grace.

Luke 6:46
Why do you call me, 'Lord, Lord,' and do not do the things which I say?

Romans 6:8-16
8 But if we died with Christ, we believe that we will also live with him; 9 knowing that Christ, being raised from the dead, dies no more. Death no more has dominion over him. 10 For the death that he died, he died to sin one time; but the life that he lives, he lives to God. 11 In the same way, consider yourselves dead to sin, but alive to God in Christ Jesus. 12 Therefore do not let sin reign in your mortal body, that you should obey it in its lusts. 13 Neither present your members to sin as instruments of unrighteousness, but present yourselves to God, as alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness to God. 14 For sin will not have dominion over you. For you are not under law, but under grace. 15 What then? Should we sin because we are not under law, but under grace? Absolutely not. 16 Do you not know that when you present yourselves to someone as obedient slaves, you are slaves of the one whom you obey, whether of sin, which leads to death, or of obedience, which leads to righteousness?

Titus 2:11-14
11 For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation to all people, 12instructing us to say "No" to ungodliness and worldly desires, and to live soberly, righteously, and godly in this present age; 13 looking for the blessed hope and appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ; 14 who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify for himself a people for his own possession, zealous for good works.

It's not just about trusting in what Jesus has done. He has spoken and his words that lead to eternal life show a way (the only way to the Father) to follow and that affirms what the Bible presents as freedom from sin (John 8:36, Romans 6:18) and a "way of righteousness" that one follows as a righteous person, no longer a sinner/wicked person still (2 Peter 2:21). For it's not a sinner still that is found on the other side of repentance and conversion (Acts 3:19; Luke 18:13-14). And confession of sins to God with a contrite heart must be accompanied with forsaking of sin (Proverbs 28:13), or there is no true contrition of "godly sorrow" (2 Corinthians 7:10) that brings about reconciliation to God for sinners who are considered his enemies before they are reconciled to Him (Romans 5:6-11). One is not reconciled to remain an enemy.

---

Large Catechism
Part Fifth: Of the Sacrament of the Altar.
53] Now, this is to be the first point, especially for those who are cold and indifferent, that they may reflect upon and rouse themselves. For this is certainly true, as I have found in my own experience, and as every one will find in his own case, that if a person thus withdraw from this Sacrament, he will daily become more and more callous and cold, and will at last disregard it altogether. 54] To avoid this, we must, indeed, examine heart and conscience, and act like a person who desires to be right with God. Now, the more this is done, the more will the heart be warmed and enkindled, that it may not become entirely cold.

55] But if you say: How if I feel that I am not prepared? Answer: That is also my scruple, especially from the old way under the Pope, in which a person tortured himself to be so perfectly pure that God could not find the least blemish in us. On this account we became so timid that every one was instantly thrown into consternation and said to himself: Alas! you are unworthy! 56] For then nature and reason begin to reckon our unworthiness in comparison with the great and precious good; and then it appears like a dark lantern in contrast with the bright sun, or as filth in comparison with precious stones. Because nature and reason see this, they refuse to approach and tarry until they are prepared, so long that one week trails another, and one half year the other. 57] But if you are to regard how good and pure you are, and labor to have no compunctions, you must never approach.

The Scriptures:
Colossians 2:8
Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ.

These reasonings above are rooted in human wisdom, trusting in one's own understanding (or that of other men) like Proverbs 3:5 tells us not to do, and in pride certainly, having been taught wrong the way to approach God. Remember, the message given is "repent or perish" (Luke 13:1-5). The Ninevites got it. When we depart from that message and offer other ways to be made right with God, pride certainly has room to creep in, rather than the fear of God bearing upon people's consciences. God resists the proud but He gives grace to the humble (1 Peter 5:5) who come to Him in full surrender of their lives to Him (Mark 8:34-35) — the way He has commanded. This is what is required in answering that call to repentance and approaching God in humility (dust and ashes) for forgiveness on the account of Jesus' shed blood and the beginning of a relationship:

Isaiah 55:7
Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts; and let him return to the LORD, and he will have mercy on him; and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon.

There is no "absolution" from God (and not through the works of a priest as under the Mosaic Law) without that.

James 1:21-22

21 Therefore, putting away all filthiness and overflowing of wickedness [that's repentance], receive with humility the implanted word, which is able to save your souls. 22 But be doers of the word [that's faith], and not only hearers, deluding your own selves.

James 4:7-10
7 Be subject therefore to God. But resist the devil, and he will flee from you. 8 Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners; and purify your hearts, you double-minded. 9 Lament, mourn, and weep. Let your laughter be turned to mourning, and your joy to gloom. 10 Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and he will exalt you.

Job 28:28
He said to mankind, "The fear of the LORD--that is wisdom. And to turn from evil is understanding."

Jesus unequivocally taught that the people of Nineveh could teach this generation about repentance:

Matthew 12:41
The men of Nineveh will rise up in the judgment with this generation and condemn it, because they repented at the preaching of Jonah; and indeed a greater than Jonah is here.

(Jonah 3:10
When God saw their actions--they turned from their evil way of living!--God relented concerning the judgment he had threatened them with and he did not destroy them.)

So, next to what is done by Jesus and that we can trust in is what we are called to do: the deeds of our faith, not the works of the Mosaic Law. This is mentioned to dispel the myth that all works mentioned in the Bible are the same or that we won't be judged each one of us according to our deeds/works (John 5:29; Romans 2:6; Revelation 22:11-12). In repentance, there are works consistent with repentance that are expected (Matthew 3:8; Acts 26:20; what Zacchaeus did as was applicable to his own circumstances - Luke 19:8; what the former practitioners of magic did - Acts 19:19; what the prodigal son did after coming to his senses - Luke 15:17-20).

Jesus' words saying "Come to me" and "learn from me" (cf. Matthew 11:28-30) cannot have a substitute in what a sacrament is made my man to stand for. 

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1. The Large Catechism by Martin Luther
https://www.lcms.org/Document.fdoc?src=lcm&id=950

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Call to Repentance

Are You an Ex-Sinner Calling yourself a Sinner?

  Image by Sabrina Eickhoff from Pixabay.

If you are a sinner, the Good News is for you!

Jesus spoke this word:

Luke 5:31-32
31 Jesus answered them, "Those who are healthy have no need for a physician, but those who are sick do. 32 I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.

Repentance and faith in Jesus is the path for sinners to become righteous:
Acts 20:20-21
[you know] 20 how I did not hold back from declaring to you anything that was profitable, teaching you publicly and from house to house, 21 testifying both to Jews and to Greeks repentance toward God, and faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ.

That's about all God has to say to sinners: Repent or else be ready to be punished in the final judgement. And that's the Good News for those who "hunger and thirst for righteousness" (Matthew 5:6) and desire with all their heart to live for God and be through with sin.

If you have responded to God's call by the Gospel to sinners, you have been forgiven your past sins and have been made righteous. You have been reconciled to God, from being previously his enemy as a sinner. You are no longer a sinner. Some synonymous for "sinner" in the Bible are "wicked", "rebellious", "unrighteous", "disobedient", "worker of iniquity/lawlessness", "evil doer", "transgressor." Are you still that? That's not what God calls his servants, his children, his people.

1 Peter 2:9-10
9 But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people, that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light; 10 who once were not a people but are now the people of God, who had not obtained mercy but now have obtained mercy. 

Romans 5:6-11
6 For when we were still without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly [sinners]. 7 For scarcely for a righteous man will one die; yet perhaps for a good man someone would even dare to die. 8 But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. 9 Much more then, having now been justified* by His blood, we shall be saved from wrath through Him. 10 For if when we were enemies we were reconciled to God through the death of His Son, much more, having been reconciled, we shall be saved by His life. 11 And not only that, but we also rejoice in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received the reconciliation.

Galatians 2:17
But if, while we seek to be justified* by Christ, we ourselves also are found sinners, is Christ therefore a minister of sin? God forbid!

*justified: made right with God / declared "righteous" by God

The thief on the cross became an ex-thief before Jesus could promise him a place with Him in paradise! His heart was changed and Jesus saw that. See The Salvation of the Thief Who Was on the Cross. He came to hate his life as a sinner up to that point, so he was ready to receive the new life in Christ (Romans 6:4; John 12:25) if he had remained alive. He had lost all pleasure in robbing people right there on the cross as he came to fear God and repented. If he did not rob for the pleasure of hurting people, then he certainly came to be in agreement with God that stealing is wrong and deserving of punishment by his divine hand. Such change happened. Every sinner who comes to God becomes an ex-(some wicked thing). The people of God are not sinners, but anyone coming to God in the first place cannot say, "I have no sin/not sinned," as then they would be liars deceiving themselves (1 John 1:8). [See this post about the popular incorrect application of 1 John 1:8: Problem in the Church: 1 John 1:8.]

The people of God are ex-sinners — He calls them his saints, or holy ones:

2 Thessalonians 10-10
9 These [the wicked] shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of His power, 10 when He comes, in that Day, to be glorified in His saints and to be admired among all those who believe, because our testimony among you was believed.

Matthew 13:40-43
40 Therefore as the tares are gathered and burned in the fire, so it will be at the end of this age. 41 The Son of Man will send out His angels, and they will gather out of His kingdom all things that offend, and those who practice lawlessness, 42 and will cast them into the furnace of fire. There will be wailing and gnashing of teeth. 43 Then the righteous will shine forth as the sun in the kingdom of their Father. He who has ears to hear, let him hear!

It's the righteous whose prayers God hears:

John 9:31
We know that God does not listen to sinners, but if anyone is a worshipper of God, and does his will, He listens to him.

1 Peter 3:12
For the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous, And His ears are open to their prayers; But the face of the Lord is against those who do evil.

Sin is what sinners are saved from!  [video]

Acts 3:19
Repent therefore and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, so that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord

Sinners who repent and are converted are put on a path of righteousness; they have turned away from the path of unrighteousness/sin. Jesus has set them free from that path of sin (John 8:34-36, Romans 6:16-18)! The grace of God teaches them to say 'No' to unrighteousness/sin (Romans 6:1-2, 12-19; Titus 2:11-14). Sin is not the way forward for them. Sin is not the center of their world. Jesus, the King of righteousness, is!

2 Timothy 2:19
However God's firm foundation stands, having this seal, "The Lord knows those who are his," and, "Let every one who names the name of the Lord depart from unrighteousness."

Righteousness and holiness is the path of the righteous or saint:

Revelation 22:11-12
11 The one being unrighteous, let him be unrighteous still; and he who is filthy, let him be filthy still; and he who is righteous, let him do righteousness still; and he who is holy, let him be holy still.”  12 “Behold, I am coming quickly, and My reward is with me, to give to each one according to his work.

Hebrews 12:14
Pursue peace with all people, and holiness, without which no one will see the Lord

Sinners have no connection with holiness whatsoever, because faith which implies obedience to God is the path that leads to righteousness, the practice of which leads to holiness (John 3:36; Romans 6:16-19). See Faith Implies Obedience.

Salvation belongs to the righteous:

Psalm 118:14-15, 19-20 
14 The LORD is my strength and song. He has become my salvation.  15 The voice of rejoicing and salvation is in the tents of the righteous. "The right hand of the LORD does valiantly.
19 Open to me the gates of righteousness. I will enter into them and praise the LORD.  20 This is the gate of the LORD; the righteous will enter into it.

The righteous are called to remain faithful to the end:

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

Revelation 14:12
Here is the endurance of the saints, those keeping the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus.

May Jesus bless you!



See also:
Are we all sinners? 

Sanctification in the Bible

The Salvation of the Thief Who Was on the Cross

Problem in the Church: 1 John 1:8

Saved From What?

Repentance According to the Bible

Crucify the Flesh (YouTube playlist)

Struggle with Sin and Double-Mindedness

Distinction Between the Righteous (Saints) and the Wicked (Sinners)

Is There No One Righteous (Romans 3:10)?

Is or Was? (video)
 
Faith Implies Obedience

The Goal of Repentance

  

 

 

What is the Grace of God?