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The Tongue is a Fire! – Religion
The Fire of the Tongue, the Rhetoric of Politics and Religion

In our previous look at public controversy in the media we began with the clash of politics, mentioning the trial of Socrates in 399 B.C. Today we begin coverage of the clashes of religion and the church with everyday culture.

For, “THE ONE WHO DESIRES LIFE, TO LOVE AND SEE GOOD DAYS,
MUST KEEP HIS TONGUE FROM EVIL AND HIS LIPS FROM SPEAKING DECEIT.
First Letter of Peter to the Church 3:10 NASB

Without digging a hole into some serious divisions of the church in our brief look at this opening quote of the Apostle Peter to the church, let me just remind us:

Political parties and the church are all gatherings of disagreeable people more or less united in one thing.
Roger Harned – talkofJesus.com

Can you think of an application for followers of Christ in current election rhetoric for the (U.S.) election year to come?

The church (saints or people) of this day and the past are all like you, like me and just like every candidate of every party in every country on earth. We are ALL SINNERS.

Therefore, regardless of our politics of the moment or religion of the past, we all speak and do evil.

The Tongue of the ‘Christian’

But I say to you that everyone who is angry with his brother shall be guilty before the court; and whoever says to his brother, ‘You good-for-nothing,’ shall be guilty before the supreme court; and whoever says, ‘You fool,’ shall be guilty enough to go into the fiery hell.
Caution of Christ – Matthew 5:22 NASB

Jesus Christ asks the crowds to examine our own hearts. So before we get to the controversy of Christ, let’s work back from Peter’s last point in this one verse [1 Peter 3:10] instructing “Christians.”

Peter asks or suggests to followers of Jesus:
1. If you desire LIFE, what is life?
2. Do you desire LOVE, what kind of love?
3. So you want to SEE GOOD DAYS, what path do you seek?
4. Do you KEEP YOUR TONGUE FROM EVIL?
5. Would others find you guilty of SPEAKING DECEIT because you have fooled yourself?
Do you speak foolishness in angry answers to others – your loved ones, those you work or worship with, a politician inciting opposition?

How can you judge their speech when you do not even judge your own?

The root meaning of deceit here is to decoy. In other words, deceive another by your words. Of course no politician would do that!

But Jesus speaks to those who want to speak truth. When we do not, like the politicians and leaders of cultural religion we also become hypocrites, as are our accusers.

Hypocrites
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Their audience is US.
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ὑποκριτής, ὑποκριτου, ὁ (ὑποκρίνομαι, which see);
1. one who answers, an interpreter (Plato, Lucian).
2. an actor, stage-player (Aristophanes, Xenophon, Plato, Aelian, Herodian).
3. in Biblical Greek, a dissembler, pretender, hypocrite:
Followers of Christ must look in the mirror first.

If you catch yourself speaking deceit you had best shut your mouth and seal your lips. (Nevermind the hypocrisy of your opponent, just find the beam in your own eye and fire of your own tongue.)

The tongue of Evil

The tongue of evil could be our own!

Paul writes to church of the Romans:

as it is written,
“THERE IS NONE RIGHTEOUS, NOT EVEN ONE;
Romans 3:13

He continues in speaking of Jews and Hellenistic culturists (Greeks):

THERE IS NONE WHO DOES GOOD,
THERE IS NOT EVEN ONE.

“THEIR THROAT IS AN OPEN GRAVE,
WITH THEIR TONGUES THEY KEEP DECEIVING,”
“THE POISON OF ASPS IS UNDER THEIR LIPS”;

“WHOSE MOUTH IS FULL OF CURSING AND BITTERNESS”…

“THERE IS NO FEAR OF GOD BEFORE THEIR EYES.”

Could this be a political treatise against Christians, Jews, Muslims, and ANY claiming God without love on their lips even in this day?

Like Peter, Paul also shows why politics and religion mix in a murky cloud of hypocrisy.

How do you seek GOOD DAYS?

What is the platform of your faith? Your religion? Traditions? Good deeds?

Your works of goodness certainly can not sway the politics of a fallen world or misled nation.

Do you seek an honest path to righteousness? It would be a religion of works and false morality, a religion of philanthropic leading in your own ideals.

… and I’m NOT going to take it anymore!

Do any recall our ‘must elect my candidate’ arguments of religion for the 2016 election?

How will you, being evil, do good for anyone?

My fellow Christians, is your witness for the Gospel of Christ?

Or is your shout to the crowds that you’re mad as hell as if Christ would be swayed by the fire of your tongue?

Perhaps your opponents think that you feign madness before the media.

What good is your shouting into the whirlwind? For the fire of your words fails to witness the compassion of our Lord Christ Jesus.

Mere religion and righteousness never equate.

Love of words or love of the Word?

Here’s a question for so-called ‘christians’ embroiled in the politics of the day: Do you have a love of words or love of the Word?

Surely the politician loves the stage of the world. Certainly the media twists words meant to incite supporters into indictments of political opponents.

Satan works no differently than the internet in spreading false accusation of the believer; for Christ is the only Word of love who can save the sinner.

The Apostle John instructs the church:

Do not love G25 the world nor the things in the world. If anyone loves G25 the world, the love of the Father is not in him.
1 John 2:15 NASB – Strong’s G25 ἀγαπάω agapaō

Life – ζωή – zōē

Life’s meaning described by Peter is:
1. life
  1. the state of one who is possessed of vitality or is animate
  2. every living soul
2. life
  1. of the absolute fullness of life, both essential and ethical, which belongs to God, and through him both to the hypostatic “logos” and to Christ in whom the “logos” put on human nature
  2. life real and genuine, a life active and vigorous, devoted to God, blessed, in the portion even in this world of those who put their trust in Christ, but after the resurrection to be consummated by new accessions (among them a more perfect body), and to last for ever.
Peter points not only forward to Christ, but by scripture back to David, a man after God’s own heart.

Religion questions God.

May I add that the politics of the world deny God’s saving grace. By our knowledge of good and evil we lost the fruit of the tree of life in Eden. Mankind spoiled God’s paradise by disobedient sin.

Psalm 34: A Psalm of David

when he feigned madness before Abimelech, who drove him away and he departed.

David looks back at these dark days and praises the LORD.

I will bless the LORD at all times;
His praise shall continually be in my mouth.
Psalm 34:1

9 O fear the LORD, you His saints;
For to those who fear Him there is no want.

13 Keep your tongue from evil
And your lips from speaking deceit.

14 Depart from evil and do good;
Seek peace and pursue it.

From advice for the saints of the Lord, David proceeds to the justice and redemption of the faithful.

21 Evil shall slay the wicked,
And those who hate the righteous will be condemned.

22 The LORD redeems the soul of His servants,
And none of those who take refuge in Him will be condemned.

The Fire of the Tongue, the Politics of Jesus

Now it was Caiaphas who advised the Jews that it was expedient that one man should die for the people.
John 18:14 NKJV

Jesus against religion

John 2:

14 In the temple courts he found people selling cattle, sheep and doves, and others sitting at tables exchanging money. 15 So he made a whip out of cords, and drove all from the temple courts, both sheep and cattle; he scattered the coins of the money changers and overturned their tables. 16 To those who sold doves he said, “Get these out of here! Stop turning my Father’s house into a market!”

John 8:

42 Jesus said to them, “If God were your Father, you would love me, for I have come here from God. I have not come on my own; God sent me. 43 Why is my language not clear to you? Because you are unable to hear what I say. 44 You belong to your father, the devil, and you want to carry out your father’s desires. He was a murderer from the beginning, not holding to the truth, for there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks his native language, for he is a liar and the father of lies. 45 Yet because I tell the truth, you do not believe me!

54 Jesus replied, “If I glorify myself, my glory means nothing. My Father, whom you claim as your God, is the one who glorifies me. 55 Though you do not know him, I know him.

58 “Very truly I tell you,” Jesus answered, “before Abraham was born, I am!” 59 At this, they picked up stones to stone him, but Jesus hid himself, slipping away from the temple grounds.

a Word of witness to followers of false religion

Jesus answered him,
“I have spoken openly to the world; I always taught in synagogues and in the temple, where all the Jews come together; and I spoke nothing in secret.
John 18:20 NASB

Jesus continues:

“Why do you question Me? Question those who have heard what I spoke to them; they know what I said.”

Truth has witnesses; yet how do unrighteous leaders of religion react?

When He had said this, one of the officers standing nearby struck Jesus, saying, “Is that the way You answer the high priest?”

Jesus answered him, “If I have spoken wrongly, testify of the wrong; but if rightly, why do you strike Me?”

So Annas sent Him bound to Caiaphas the high priest.

Political reaction to Righteousness

Pilate said to Him, “What is truth?” And when he had said this, he went out again to the Jews and said to them, “I find no guilt in Him.
Pilate said to them, “Shall I crucify your King?”
The chief priests answered, “We have no king but Caesar.”
John 18:38; 19:15b NASB

Righteous reaction to the Political

Mark 12:

Is it lawful to pay a poll-tax to Caesar, or not? 15 Shall we pay or shall we not pay?”

But He, knowing their hypocrisy, said to them,

“Why are you testing Me? Bring Me a denarius to look at.”

¹⁷And Jesus said to them, “Render to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s, and to God the things that are God’s.”

Is Politics your Religion OR Religion your Politics?

Psalm 2:

The Messiah’s Triumph and Kingdom

Why do the nations rage,
And the people plot a vain thing?
2 The kings of the earth set themselves,
And the rulers take counsel together,
Against the Lord and against His Anointed saying,
3 “Let us break Their bonds in pieces
And cast away Their cords from us.”

Christ Jesus, the Messiah of the Lord God, warned of our anger against God.

⁷אֲסַפְּרָ֗ה אֶֽ֫ל חֹ֥ק יְֽהוָ֗ה אָמַ֘ר אֵלַ֥י בְּנִ֥י אַ֑תָּה אֲ֝נִ֗י הַיּ֥וֹם יְלִדְתִּֽיךָ׃

⁸שְׁאַ֤ל מִמֶּ֗נִּי וְאֶתְּנָ֣ה ג֭וֹיִם נַחֲלָתֶ֑ךָ וַ֝אֲחֻזָּתְךָ֗ אַפְסֵי־אָֽרֶץ׃

10 Now therefore, be wise, O kings;
Be instructed, you judges of the earth.
11 Serve the Lord with fear,
And rejoice with trembling.
12 Kiss the Son, lest He be angry,
And you perish in the way,
When His wrath is kindled but a little.
Blessed are all those who put their trust in Him.
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To be continued...
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November 9, 2019
The Tongue is a Fire! – Politics
In politics bitter tongues spew hatred from each side over the airwaves and into our devices. Broadcasters claim a ‘balanced,’ supposedly unbiased approach, while we ask: ‘What now? Will this never end?’

Oh, the hateful words of a tongue on fire! Media broadcasts them every day, sometimes even minute by minute.

BREAKING NEWS! (Politics, again)

Media and now #socialmedia broadcast fiery furious tongue-lashings available on demand from any public figure. Winning politicians hope to burn their opponent with their own words and rally opposition. Who might join their cause of shouted hatred?

Our present political battlefield seems hopeless to those beaten by the constant plummeting of hellacious accusation and diffident denial. The politics of the day of course is nothing new under the sun, as a once-great leader long ago lamented.

“Never discuss religion or politics

In fact history of the ages will confirm assassinations to ascension, misleading public proclamations and attempts of cleansing lands of religious and political opponents.

We can make light of it all (and sometimes should), but government always gets out of control.

Presidents, senators, representatives, prime ministers, premiers, governors, kings, queens, princes, dictators and despots – ALL will always have critics (and often they should). But careful what your tongue speaks against those in power and watch each touch of your inciting visual indictment pointing a finger directly into the eyes of the victimized masses.

Many have given up hope for any sane solution to this country’s current problems. Our current lack of civility in the media marketplace stems not from disagreement, but from frustration.

Yet I ask, which country do I speak of and which troublesome time now or in our past?

Aesop – 5th c. B.C. Classic quote about politics

One of the penalties for refusing to participate in politics is that you end up being governed by your inferiors.
Plato – Greece 4th c. B.C.

In our age there is no such thing as ‘keeping out of politics.’ All issues are political issues, and politics itself is a mass of lies, evasions, folly, hatred and schizophrenia.
George Orwell – U.S.A. A.D. 1946

Preparation for HATE WEEK

The Ministry of Truth — Minitrue, in Newspeak — was startlingly different from any other object in sight. It was an enormous pyramidal structure of glittering white concrete, soaring up, terrace after terrace, 300 metres into the air. – 1984 ch. 1 – George Orwell

& let’s not ignore the politics of religion

Has the tongue been condemned for truth or held mute for silence?

Yes, of course; again and again. Controversy is no stranger to politics of power or conflicts of religious belief.

Occasionally a man or woman of principle will prevail; but more often than not, the sharp tongues of adamant belief will ignite shouts of suspicion from crowds bent on justice.

Ignorance ignores mercy and truth in deference to hell-bent justice shouted from the masses.

Greece: 4th c. B.C.

Socrates – Philosopher opposed to our gods

399 B.C. Socrates sentenced to death

399 B.C.

Socrates’ accusers cited two ‘impious’ acts: ‘failing to acknowledge the gods that the city acknowledges’ and ‘introducing new deities.’

A majority of the 501 dikasts (Athenian citizens chosen by lot to serve as jurors) voted to convict him. Consistent with common practice, the dikasts determined Socrates’ punishment with another vote. Socrates was ultimately sentenced to death by drinking a hemlock-based liquid.

It’s the very kind of accusation which takes place to this day.

Authoritative secular leaders or tyrannical religious leaders decide justice for those who oppose their iron-fisted rule. So one man or a few in power determine justice and death of men of popular opposition.

Classic Greek Democracy & Culture of Religion

Life in Athens’ 4th c. B.C “Golden Age.”
- Greek influence northern rim of the Mediterranean Asia Minor to the Italian peninsula
- only men could be citizens
- only upper-class males (aristocracy) enjoyed a formal education
- 25% population made up of slaves, usually prisoners captured during the many clashes that extended Greek influence overseas.
- Slaves provided much of the manpower of a burgeoning economy
- 12 Olympian gods & goddesses + a whole society of lesser gods, demigods, mythic creatures, immortals, plus godly entities that existed before the Olympians such as the Titans.
Politics behind the scenes of Socrates’ trial.

Another commentator investigating the motives behind Socrates’ “suicide” (which was far from voluntary) states:
- Socrates was 70 years old and familiar to most Athenians.
- His anti-democratic views had turned many in the city against him. [politics]
- accused of “refusing to recognize the gods recognized by the state” [religion] and of “corrupting the youth.” [politics]
- Two of his students had twice briefly overthrown the democratic government of the city,
  - instituting a reign of terror in which thousands of citizens [aristocracy] were deprived of their property
  - and either banished from the city or executed.
- Socrates was found guilty by a vote of 280 to 220.
It’s a house divided — or a city-state, if you prefer, divided by politics with religion and corruption of culture as an excuse.

Socrates: GUILTY by a poll of the leading citizens

56% voting Guilty & 44% (4 of every 10 men) voting Not Guilty.

Justice by majority meant death to the philosopher so the accusers could blame Socrates for their problems. Who shall we blame for our?

Jerusalem, A.D. 1st. century Politics

If we took time to dig into the archeology of the time between Socrates in ancient Athens and Jesus in first century Jerusalem we would discover politics, not justice. Many similarities between the complex politics of their times four centuries apart point to true injustice of the ambitions of man.

You would discover more than just rebellion, but war between east and west. Babylon and Persia to the east, Egypt to the south and Rome to the west all had roles in the philosophies, culture and religions imported into the place still known for controversy. The city and state strategically buffering these powers in the centuries before Jesus: Jerusalem in Judea of Palestine (named variously by capturing powers.

How often we overlook context of the past while judging the present. Think back four centuries from this present trouble to the 1600’s and world power and politics would look very different, having undergone many violent political upheavals.

Is 1st c. Jerusalem so different?

Hate Week in Jerusalem is about to become a week of hypocritical religion meeting with the brokers of political power to preserve a captive land. Israel is no more; but captive spoil, vassal states under the rule of their Roman rulers. Their local political king must negotiate with political religious parties to maintain a delicate peace of Rome in a city ripe for rebellion of crowds in the name of God.

The holiest time of pilgrimage brings thousands into a Jerusalem guarded by Roman troops. The only political card Jews held what that of helping Rome keep the peace for the sake of their considerable trade and commerce. Money flowed into the city each year at Passover and on into Roman coffers which paid their oppressing legions and built the ports and roads of Roman ambition.

Into this very visible public square of the Temple courtyard and markets, enters Jesus.

Mars – Roman god of war

Greece had idols and gods for everything. A Roman peace offered to its captives promoted the ancient greek culture. And like the greeks, Rome worshiped many gods, idols of culture.
- 67 different gods and goddesses in the Roman pantheon, and plenty more demigods, each ruling over a particular dominion and watching over particular professions and classes of people.
Like Plato four centuries earlier, Jesus’ reputation precedes Him.

Unlike Plato, Jesus is only thirty years old. Yet He acts more like a king than a boisterous rebel. This Jesus, with both reputation and crowds following Him to the gate of Jerusalem is a man to be watched.

a Lamb of Sacrifice for Justice

The Gospel (Good News) of John, chapter 11:

47 Then the chief priests and the Pharisees gathered a council and said, “What shall we do? For this Man works many signs. If we let Him alone like this, everyone will believe in Him, and the Romans will come and take away both our place and nation.”

And one of them, Caiaphas, being high priest that year, said to them,

“You know nothing at all, nor do you consider that it is expedient for us that one man should die for the people, and not that the whole nation should perish.”
John 11:49b-50 NKJV

53 Then, from that day on, they plotted to put Him to death.
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To be continued...
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November 4, 2019
Because the days are evil – 6 – put on the armor of light
The night is far spent, the day is at hand. Therefore let us cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armor of light.
Romans 13:12 NKJV

As these days of darkness slowly impinge upon the light which brought joy to our days and shortened our nights, we despair. The enemy somehow has taken hold in the stealth during the unwatched hours before dawn’s light. In days past an armor for the battle at hand would have lain nearby, but not this evil eve of a day we dread and denied could ever dawn.

The mist of the valleys of death’s shadows billows toward our resting place, while evil awakes nearby the tents of huddled men of flesh naked to assault without watchman or armor. Because this day of evil will soon commence, a day of the enemies choosing, not ours, we should have stayed alert with armor at hand. But the battles of darkness have wearied our flesh and the sound of the trumpet alarms the unprepared warriors bereft of their armor.

War

We never saw it coming. And the unseen awful creatures of the unseen darkness, even those of the light which stand with us, we never saw.

Yet these also stand in a battle – a struggle of spirits; those of light and those of darkness, all vying for victory in the war to come.

I heard the second living creature say, “Come! ”
Then another horse went out, a fiery red one, and its rider was allowed to take peace from the earth, so that people would slaughter one another.
And a large sword was given to him.
The Revelation of Jesus Christ to John 6:3b-4 CSB

The LORD God prepares His faithful and sends out His angels. The victory was won at the Cross, but these final battles are not yet fought.

Even now, angels of the prince of darkness would lure your soul, captive in this failing flesh, toward the false light of the fires of darkness deep in the valley of the shadow of death.

You don’t believe in this, you say – evil spirits and angels. Just fearful myth, you say, since the evil one has already questioned God in your ear.

Yet the spirit of true light, the shining hope of the resurrection of the dead and judgment of death and evil tells us the truth of eternity.

Light

Genesis 1:

Now the earth was formless and empty, darkness covered the surface of the watery depths, and the Spirit of God was hovering over the surface of the waters.

Formless and empty – does this describe your mortal life? What shape have your battles of this frail flesh taken – defeat?

Yes, defeat in inevitable death.

Darkness covered the surface of the watery depths…

As you sleep so briefly, lightly the enemy lurks in the mist of dark valleys. He plans his battle against you, helpless prey to sin and death.

The deceiver whispers to your restless soul as he once whispered to man before our original sin, ‘Did God really say “the Spirit of God was hovering over the surface of an unformed universe?”

‘I wonder,’ you think.

‘My theory of life need not include a Creator of separation of light from darkness – of good from evil.’

Then God said, “Let there be light,”
and there was light.
God saw that the light was good,
and God separated the light from the darkness.
Genesis 1:3-4 CSB

The Light of Good News

You worship self or you worship things and traditions of men who have died. Perhaps a false prophet or spirit of an evil age gave your fathers excuse to deny God, your reason to reject the LORD’s own love for His creation.

Though you have heard of the Gospel, you turn away from the eternal Light of your only hope.

The Gospel of John

In the beginning was the Word,

and the Word was with God,

and the Word was God.

He was with God in the beginning. All things were created through him, and apart from him not one thing was created that has been created.

In him was life,

and that life was the light of men.

That light shines in the darkness, and yet the darkness did not overcome it. = John 1:1-5

So much darkness and deceit in these last days… God help us.

They have heard the Gospel of John, yet their hateful words and stopped-up ears fail to discern the darkness to come.

This is the judgment:
The light has come into the world, and people loved darkness rather than the light because their deeds were evil. For everyone who does evil hates the light and avoids it, so that his deeds may not be exposed.
But anyone who lives by the truth comes to the light, so that his works may be shown to be accomplished by God.”
The Word after John 3:16 – John 3:19-21 CSB

Jesus spoke to them again:
“I am the light of the world.
Anyone who follows me will never walk in the darkness but will have the light of life.”
Gospel of John 8:12 CSB

The Armor of the Redeemed

“He redeemed my soul from going down to the Pit,
and I will continue to see the light.”
Job 33:28

You may not believe the supernatural battles spoken in scripture, the heavenly scenes of Job, Ezekiel and others. Certainly you doubt the earthly battles of God’s redeemed.

Yet only a man or woman of foolish flesh will deny the truth of death and the good judgment of a righteous justice of the souls of man.

Those asleep in these last days must heed the warnings of Almighty God through Scripture.

The metaphor of God’s armor required to resist the evil one stands as preparation for all who seek the light of day.

Warnings of the evil to come

The LORD will destroy evil just as before, even using warriors of the enemy to purge the sin from the chosen.

Jeremiah 46:

3 Deploy small shields and large;
approach for battle!
4 Harness the horses;
mount the steeds;
take your positions with helmets on!
Polish the lances;
put on armor!

5 Why have I seen this?
They are terrified,
they are retreating,
their warriors are crushed,
they flee headlong,
they never look back,
terror is on every side!
This is the Lord’s declaration.

Isaiah

2 כִּ֤י אִם־עֲוֺנֹֽתֵיכֶם֙ הָי֣וּ מַבְדִּלִ֔ים בֵּינֵכֶ֕ם לְבֵ֖ין אֱלֹֽהֵיכֶ֑ם וְחַטֹּֽאותֵיכֶ֗ם הִסְתִּ֧ירוּ פָנִ֛ים מִכֶּ֖ם מִשְּׁמֽוֹעַ׃
… We stumble at midday as in the twilight;
Among those who are healthy we are like dead men.
14 Justice is turned back,
and righteousness stands far off.
For truth has stumbled in the public square,
and honesty cannot enter.
15 Truth is missing,
and whoever turns from evil is plundered.
The Lord saw that there was no justice,
and he was offended.
17 He put on righteousness as body armor,
and a helmet of salvation on his head;
he put on garments of vengeance for clothing,
and he wrapped himself in zeal as in a cloak.
18 So he will repay according to their deeds:
20 וּבָ֤א לְצִיּוֹן֙ גּוֹאֵ֔ל וּלְשָׁבֵ֥י פֶ֖שַׁע בְּיַֽעֲקֹ֑ב נְאֻ֖ם יְהוָֽה׃
Isaiah 59: excerpts WLC, AMP, CSB

“As for me, this is my covenant with them,” says the Lord:
“My Spirit who is on you, and my words that I have put in your mouth, will not depart from your mouth, or from the mouths of your children, or from the mouths of your children’s children, from now on and forever,” says the Lord.
Isaiah 59:21 CSB

The Armor of Light

Jesus answered. “If anyone walks during the day, he doesn’t stumble, because he sees the light of this world. But if anyone walks during the night, he does stumble, because the light is not in him.”
He said this, and then he told them,
“Our friend Lazarus has fallen asleep, but I’m on my way to wake him up.”
The Gospel of John: 9b-11 CSB

Ephesians

This is why it is said: “Wake up, sleeper, rise from the dead, and Christ will shine on you.”
Ephesians 5:14 NIV

The Armor of God

Finally, be strengthened by the Lord and by his vast strength.
Put on the full armor of God so that you can stand against the schemes of the devil. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers of this darkness, against evil, spiritual forces in the heavens.
Ephesians 6:10-12 CSB

Darkness verses Light — that is, evil opposing good, the rebellious turned against redemption and Christ’s enemy, the prince of darkness battling against God until the very end.

This darkness will fall upon the sleeping warriors of these last days, consuming their failing flesh and fallen world. The Lord will purify with the refining fire of His righteousness.

Yet those dressed in His armor will live victorious. By the Cross Christ has redeemed the faithful from our sins!

13 For this reason take up the full armor of God, so that you may be able to resist in the evil day, and having prepared everything, to take your stand.
- TRUTH
- RIGHTEOUSNESS
- PREPARATION
- OF THE GOSPEL OF PEACE
- FAITH
“with which you will be able to extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one.”

Ambush by the enemy

The attacks of Satan are not the quick end which destroys instantly, but burning flames of ambush from the darkness of the unseen places.

And take THE HELMET OF SALVATION, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.
Ephesians 6:11 NASB

The SWORD OF THE SPIRIT is the WORD by the HOLY SPIRIT of the Living God, sent for our salvation.

Pray at all times in the Spirit with every prayer and request, and stay alert with all perseverance and intercession for all the saints.
Ephesians 6:18 CSB

Have you dressed for this dark day?

I was in the Spirit on the Lord’s day, and I heard behind me a loud voice like the sound of a trumpet…
After these things I looked, and behold, a door standing open in heaven, and the first voice which I had heard, like the sound of a trumpet speaking with me, said, “Come up here, and I will show you what must take place after these things.”
Revelation 1:10, 4:1,

Is your armor at hand for the day of evil?

“Therefore be alert, because you don’t know either the day or the hour.
Matthew 25:13 CSB

Put your armor on, because the days are evil.
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To be continued...
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October 23, 2019