Household Prayer: hopefully optimistic!

Hopefully optimistic!

Brothers, I pray for an attitude that is hopefully optimistic. I pray we can be hopefully optimistic as we are doing the hard work of building Godly households and raising the next generation in the instruction and admonition of the Lord. No matter what the spiritual condition of the culture around us, we are praying and working in faith and obedience to bring God’s will to earth as it is in heaven. Carrying out our ambassador and witness responsibilities. Not because we have to, but because we get to thanks to the mercy and grace of our savior!

“Pray then like this: “Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name. Your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread, and forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.”
Matthew 6:9-13 ESV https://bible.com/bible/59/mat.6.9-13.ESV

“The more we make reading the Bible a part of our daily routine, the more we desire and appreciate it:”
buff.ly/3zP2tCR
“Daniel obeyed God’s laws, not the pagan laws. And through Daniel’s love, faith, and obedience to God, he thrived in an ungodly land.”

“Those who stand steadfastly on the historic principles of the Christian faith will eventually be called extremists by the ones blown about by the winds of cultural change”
https://founders.org/2021/07/22/pleasing-christ-in-uncertain-days/

“… if the Bible calls it a sin, it’s a sin. Don’t try to nuance the Bible into oblivion. Open the Book and let it speak! Be so fanatical that you take this Book for what it says and how it says it. Be a Bible man or Bible woman. It’s okay to be a weird young earther. Moses was. Paul was. Jesus is. I’m content siding with them. If it’s the “simple-minded” who’re willing to believe what the Bible says, count me among them. I’ll make my home with the pig farmers over the professors. Count me among the cultural exiles rather than the capitulating elites…

The foulest sinner in your town or in your home or God forbid, on your deacon board, is no match for the power of God in the gospel. Preach the gospel to the self-righteous, the down and out, the poor, the rich, the affluent, and the illiterate. And trust that it is the power of God for salvation for all who believe. No breathing sinner is beyond the reach of God. So, be a gospel radical…

2 Corinthians 5:10 reminds us that we won’t stand before earthly kings or presidents or networks one day. No. It will be the King of kings Himself. The Lord Jesus Christ. Will we be found faithful? Will we be found loyal? …

Your aim is to please Christ. Your goal, your desire, your ambition is to please the King for the glory of His Name. Carry that motto to the guillotine.”

Pleasing Christ in Uncertain Days https://founders.org/2021/07/22/pleasing-christ-in-uncertain-days/

**“Righteousness means a person wants what is right according to the Word of God:”**
buff.ly/2TJuFaS
“The Bible tells us, “The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective” (James 5:16). A righteous person is a person who is in right standing with God. A righteous person has a personal relationship with Jesus as his or her Savior. A righteous person seeks to obey God and yield to the direction of the Holy Spirit. Righteousness means a person wants what is right according to the Word of God—he or she wants to see God’s Truth and God’s will established on this earth.”

Household Prayer: fruit of the spirit

Hey brothers, hoping and praying you are well. It’s been tough getting the school discipline fired back up. I admittedly didn’t exhibit the fruit of the spirit well this week, so I’m praying for love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. Praying to keep the focus on knowing God and making Him known in the instruction of our children, equipping them to hold firm in the faith as they become His ambassadors and witness in the world. I pray for each of you as well. For His glory!

“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law.”
Galatians 5:22-23 ESV https://bible.com/bible/59/gal.5.22-23.ESV

“By this my Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit and so prove to be my disciples.”
John 15:8 ESV https://bible.com/bible/59/jhn.15.8.ESV

https://www.ltw.org/read/my-devotional/2021/08/give-god-credit

Tyranny, Politics, and the Pre-Political

Are you fundamentally political? follow that to its conclusion, if you, body and soul, are political, then you are a creature of the state. Are you? What would God say?

“Then he said to them, “Therefore render to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s, and to God the things that are God’s.” When they heard it, they marveled. And they left him and went away.”
Matthew‬ ‭22:17-22‬ ‭ESV‬‬ https://bible.com/bible/59/mat.22.17-18.ESV

Is Politics Everything?

The Theology Pugcast had an excellent episode recently, asking the question “Is Politics Everything?“

Tyranny always makes everything political. That’s how a tyrant can take control of all aspects of life. Sex? Political. Gender? Political. Labor? Political. Health care? Yep, political. Vaccinations? You know it, political! Oh, here is a good one, children? Political. The state wants to control it all!

“the Left pushes its ideology ever deeper into the personal realm, leaving fewer and fewer areas of daily life uncontested. This, warned Arendt, is a sign that a society is ripening for totalitarianism, because that is what totalitarianism essentially is: the politicization of everything.”— Live Not by Lies: A Manual for Christian Dissidents by Rod Dreher
https://a.co/0gFsTIo

In this episode, and I highly recommend it… all the way through, there are some truth bombs at the end. They coin the term “pre-political.”

We are, our gender, marriage, children, all of it, we are pre-political.

“In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth.”
‭‭Genesis‬ ‭1:1‬ ‭ESV‬‬ https://bible.com/bible/59/gen.1.1.ESV

God created us, not the state or politics.

“Then God said, “Let us make man in our image, after our likeness.””
‭‭Genesis‬ ‭1:26‬ ‭ESV‬‬ https://bible.com/bible/59/gen.1.26.ESV

God made humans before the state and politics.

God made humans in His image. This has huge implications that should not be overlooked.

Money, in Matthew 22 a denarius (Matt. 22:21), has the states “likeness.” Therefore, we pay our taxes to the state. Our money is political (not to be confused with labor!).

But our children and we ourselves have God’s “likeness” (Gen. 1:26), therefore we belong to God. We are pre-political.

“Tell us, then, what you think. Is it lawful to pay taxes to Caesar, or not?” Show me the coin for the tax.” And they brought him a denarius. And Jesus said to them, “Whose likeness and inscription is this?” They said, “Caesar’s.” Then he said to them, “Therefore render to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s, and to God the things that are God’s.””
Matthew‬ ‭22:17, 19-21‬ ‭ESV‬‬ https://bible.com/bible/59/mat.22.21.ESV

Listen to The Theology Pugcast “Is Politics Everything?” here https://subspla.sh/9x2gmqn

“You may have heard feminists say, “The personal is political”—but are they right? Is the relationship between a mother and her child really a political relationship—or is it something else? In today’s show the guys discuss what else relationships like this could be. The term that they use is “pre-political”.”
https://subspla.sh/9x2gmqn

Christians are owned by a higher authority

“Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, whom you have from God? You are not your own, for you were bought with a price. So glorify God in your body.”
1 Corinthians‬ ‭6:19-20‬ ‭ESV‬‬ https://bible.com/bible/59/1co.6.19-20.ESV

Foundations of the United States of America

The concept of the pre-political nature of man is the foundation of America.

“We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.”
Declaration Of Independence https://a.co/6ICBszd

Therefore, the state is derived from among the people with the purpose of securing our pre-political nature.

“That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed,”
Declaration Of Independence https://a.co/figcjIb

What happens when we let what belongs to God become political?

Biden BLM [Bureau of Land Management] nominee called to ‘wage war on overpopulation’

“Manning is quoted: “The damage is evident and the demise of the [grizzly bear is] imminent, yet we continue our war cries while breeding our weapons“

Yes, she just “referred to a human child as an ‘environmental hazard‘ and called for Americans to have no more than two children”

She claims “‘we must breed fewer consuming humans.’ In other words, save the grizzlies but get rid of as many humans as possible and stop people having children (or I’m sure she would support killing them by abortion). But God states the opposite.” – Ken Ham

And God blessed them. And God said to them, “Be fruitful and multiply and fill the earth and subdue it, and have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the heavens and over every living thing that moves on the earth.
Genesis 1:28

Manning is quoted: "The damage is evident and the demise of the griz imminent, yet we continue our war cries while breeding our weapons"; "she referred to a human child as an "environmental hazard" and called for Americans to have no more… https://t.co/dmk5hGBCYJ
— Ken Ham (@aigkenham) August 1, 2021

Education from Worship

If our purpose is to glorify and worship God and enjoy him forever, then education, as with all aspects of life, should be an expression of that worship.

True worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth…
John 4:21-24

“What is the chief end [or purpose] of man? Man’s chief end [or purpose] is to glorify God and to enjoy Him forever.” – A Baptist Catechism, question 2

“God is to be worshipped everywhere in spirit and truth – daily in each family and privately by each individual.” – 1689 Baptist Confession of Faith, 22:6

“Worship is central to life; therefore, it is central to education for that life… education and learning follow worship and proceed from it… education that does not begin and end in heaven is not true education.” – Wilson, The Case for Classical Christian Education

“Walk about Zion, go around her, number her towers, consider well her ramparts, go through her citadels that you may…

tell the next generation that this is God, our God forever and ever. He will guide us forever.
Psalm 48:12-14

https://www.ltw.org/read/my-devotional/2021/07/christ-is-counter-cultural

Education is Warfare – Disciple the Nations – SexEd?

Education is warfare

We, Christian families and the Church, are called to disciple all nations, baptize them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teach them all of God’s commands.

“Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.””
‭‭Matthew‬ ‭28:19-20‬ ‭ESV‬‬
https://www.bible.com/59/mat.28.19-20.esv

Why such a focus on sex in government education? Is education primarily sexual?!?

“New York Times Shocked: Parents Oppose ‘Porn Literacy’ In Schools” https://www.dailywire.com/news/new-york-times-shocked -parents-oppose-porn-literacy-in-schools

We Will Not Be Silenced: Responding Courageously to Our Culture’s Assault on Christianity
by Erwin W. Lutzer

“A reminder that “secular” doesn’t mean neutral. As Jesus said “Whoever is not with me is against me…” (Mathew 12:30). Secular means anti-God. A reminder public school education is not neutral. Everyone has a worldview, a religion, through which they see the world around them. Teachers are not neutral. Curricula are not neutral. Don’t be shocked when a secular curricula does not promote Christian morality. Without God’s absolute Word as the foundation, anything goes. Parents are now seeing “secular” for what it really is.” Ken Ham https://twitter.com/aigkenham/status/1415989585117646848 ?s=21

Government schools claim to be neutral, but they are not. They are promoting a worldview, a godless religion. “The Christian faith is not a condiment to be used to flavor the neutral substance of secular knowledge. Paul tells us that every thought is to be made captive to Christ (2 For. 10:1-4)… Jesus said we are to disciple the nations, and to the extent that we see anything out of line with His Word, we are to call that into obedience.” (The Case for Classical Christian Education by Doug Wilson)

Is our children’s education grounded on the Truth? Are we making disciples? Or is our faith in Jesus Christ just a condiment squirted on a pagan education?

Household Prayer – 3/30/2021

“For I have chosen him, that he may command his children and his household after him to keep the way of the Lord by doing righteousness and justice, so that the Lord may bring to Abraham what he has promised him.””
‭Genesis‬ ‭18:19‬ ‭ESV‬‬ https://www.bible.com/59/gen.18.19.esv

Brothers, today I’m praying for our households. Praying that we would be set apart and dependent on the Lord in community with our church, including our CC community.

The link below is a video reviewing the diary of a young man and his household from the 1800s with a lesson for us as men today. I find it fascinating and inspiring. My personal family vision is to leave a Godly legacy. Working that out over the last 16 years has evolved into the practical theology of building a Godly household. I’ve spent the last 2-3 years considering what a Godly household is from Scripture. Some thoughts on it are to be “set apart” (holy, set apart for God) and “dependent on no one” (1 Thessalonians 4:11-12). To be builders and producers. To be fruitful, fill the earth, and take dominion (Gen. 1:28; Gen. 2:15; Gen. 14:4; Gen. 18:19; Jeremiah 29:4-7; Matt. 28:18-20). I have a long way to go. I hope the video is encouraging to you as well.

Household: (Hebrew: bayit) family, estate, dynasty, armory, clan, strong fortress.

Economy: Latin from the Greek oikonomia, oikos: household, nemein: manage, or household management.

youtu.be/AeJYrkxY74s

Reform the Church and ReEnchant the World with God’s Truth and Grace!

Enchant (latin: encantio): to speak meaning into.

If the church is not reenchanting this fallen world with God’s truth and grace, then it is being disenchanted with the lies of Satan!

“How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the good news!”
– Romans 10:14-15

Prayer, public witness of the church, and proclaiming God’s truth and grace.

Why are we here (in this sin fallen world)?
To bear witness to God and His truth and grace.
To make disciples of all nations.
Matthew 28:18-20

Why are we here (on the sidewalk outside an abortion clinic)?
To bear witness to God and His truth and grace.
To love the captive soul and to preach the good news!
Romans 10:14-15

What message are we sharing and bearing witness to?
There is a God that created the heavens and the earth.
We humans are created in His image.
We are sinners, we have rebelled against Him, and justly deserve our due punishment of death and damnation.
But God is merciful and loving.
Jesus is God the only begotten Son and He took our punishment upon Himself in our place.
Jesus rose from the dead, defeating death and securing the hope of our salvation.
We need only confess our sins, proclaim Jesus is lord and savior, and repent and we will be forgiven our sins and have life ever after!
Romans 3:10-18, 23
1 Corinthians 15:3-8
John 3:16-21
Ephesians 2:1-10

Leviticus 18:21; Matt. 5:17-19; Acts 2:37-41

HouseHold Prayer 2/18/21

If we have assumed… that our children learned what they needed to know simply by ecclesial and cultural osmosis, let us be clear that we may hold this assumption no longer. Now is not the time to play down our doctrine of mankind; now is the time to teach it with confidence and with joy, seeking to be witnesses to fellow sinners and guides to all God’s flock.
“Reenchanting Humanity: a theology of mankind” by Owen Strachan

Brothers, I was reading in Numbers 14, “And your children shall be shepherds in the wilderness forty years and shall suffer for your faithlessness, until the last of your dead bodies lies in the wilderness.” Numbers‬ ‭14:31, 33‬.

I feel the time is short. I don’t want my children to suffer because of my faithlessness to prepare them. I want to walk with my children out into the ministry to be a witness, to go and make disciples, and to be an ambassador for our King and His Kingdom in this foreign land! To instruct and disciple them to stand firm in the faith, being bold with God’s truth and grace, even in a culture of growing hostility.

Pray for the motivation and energy to make discipleship a priority in our lives and in our homes. To lead by example. Pray that we would not be distracted by lessor things.

Read Numbers 14.

I’ll share opportunities for public witness and discipleship during the current 40 Days for Life campaign when the temps warm up a bit. I know making it out during the work day with your family is hard, but it is the best time to be a witness when Planned Parenthood is open, and it opens amazing discipleship opportunities with your children. Take a long lunch if you can. (Just encouraging in love, no condemnation if you can’t make it out! Find other opportunities.)

“We have raised a generation on youth group skits and entertainment, failing to prepare them for the cost and battle of public witness to Christ… ‘Do not try to hide your children from the world forever, but do not try to pretend there is no danger. Train them. Give them sharp eyes and bellies full of laughter. Make them dangerous. Make them yeast, and when they’ve grown, they will pollute the shadows.’”
– Strong and Courageous: Following Jesus Amid the Rise of America’s New Religion https://press.founders.org/shop/strong-and-courageous/

“We have to change our church philosophy from telling to training… ‘Jesus had twelve men with whom he traveled and lived for three years, and even they did not understand nor act on all He taught them. Jesus knew that disciples are best made by life on life interaction, living transparently, watching and observing, along with extensive times of question and answer. And we must do the same. His last words were to “Go therefore and make disciples of all nations.” We have to stop emphasizing an “attractional” model and adopt a training and sending model of church philosophy’… Discipleship is not just what you know; it is a lifestyle lived.”
— The Church in Babylon: Heeding the Call to Be a Light in the Darkness by Erwin W. Lutzer https://a.co/3ezHHzp

We have been told that we people are the chance result of impersonal chaos working its dark magic on the universe… The outcome of such thinking? Humanity is disenchanted…

But this is not the biblical account of man… God, the beautiful one, made the human race as his capstone work, his corporeal masterpiece (Ps 8:3-6; 27:4) … The imago dei marks out humanity as an enchanted race. Tragically, humanity disenchanted itself by following the anti-wisdom of the serpent…

If we have assumed… that our children learned what they needed to know simply by ecclesial and cultural osmosis, let us be clear that we may hold this assumption no longer. Now is not the time to play down our doctrine of mankind; now is the time to teach it with confidence and with joy, seeking to be witnesses to fellow sinners and guides to all God’s flock.
“Reenchanting Humanity: a theology of mankind” by Owen Strachan

Prayer, public witness of the church, and proclaiming God’s truth and grace.

Why are we here (in this sin fallen world)?
To bear witness to God and His truth and grace.
To make disciples of all nations.
Matthew 28:18-20

Why are we here (on the sidewalk outside an abortion clinic)?
To bear witness to God and His truth and grace.
To love the captive soul and to preach the good news!
Romans 10:14-15

Leviticus 18:21; Matt. 5:17-19; Acts 2:37-41

Household Prayer 2/11/2021

“The 1689 Baptist Confession of Faith in modern English”
Founder Press

Brothers, today my heart is on community. What a grace of God is the community of the “visible saints” as they meet together in churches for worship, and what a grace of God is our community of households coming together to love and support one another in a common mission under God to educate and bring up our children “in the discipline and instruction of the Lord.” A holy, set apart, loving and caring witness to the Kingdom of God.

Pray for our community. Pray for individual families you know, and pray for a heart to love and serve them. Pray that we can and will depend on one another in times of celebration, in times of mourning, and in times of trial.

Read John 13:34-35

“A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another. By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.””
‭John‬ ‭13:34-35‬ ‭ESV‬‬
https://www.bible.com/59/jhn.13.34-35.esv

“The Church… All people throughout the world who profess the faith of the gospel and obedience to God through Christ in keeping with the gospel are and may be called visible saints… Those who are called He commands to live together in local societies, or churches, for their mutual edification and the fitting conduct of public worship that He requires of them while they are in the world… saints by calling, visibly displaying and demonstrating in and by their profession and life their obedience to the call of Christ.”
“The 1689 Baptist Confession of Faith in modern English” Founder Press

“It is easily forgotten that the fellowship of Christian brethren is a gift of grace, a gift of the Kingdom of God that any day may be taken from us, that the time that still separates us from utter loneliness may be brief indeed. Therefore, let him who until now has had the privilege of living a common Christian life with other Christians praise God’s grace from the bottom of his heart. Let him thank God on his knees and declare: It is grace, nothing but grace, that we are allowed to live in community with Christian brethren.”
— Life Together by Dietrich Bonhoeffer

Prayer, public witness of the church, and proclaiming God’s truth and grace.

Why are we here (in this sin fallen world)?
To bear witness to God and His truth and grace.
To make disciples of all nations.
Matthew 28:18-20

Why are we here (on the sidewalk outside an abortion clinic)?
To bear witness to God and His truth and grace.
To love the captive soul and to preach the good news!
Romans 10:14-15

Leviticus 18:21; Matt. 5:17-19; Acts 2:37-41

Prayer walk – March for Life Resources 1/29/2021

“The right to life is a good example of what legal historians refer to as an objective right: it is objective in the sense that it exists outside ourselves and is unalienable… The right to life imposes obligations: you must do everything in your power to preserve it.
#SlayingLeviathan https://canonpress.com/products/slaying-leviathan/

Friday January 29, 2021 from 12:00 to 12:30.

Planned Parenthood 2709 N Knoxville Ave, corner of Knoxville and Hanssler Place.

If you want to walk, meet at the Dobra’s. We start walking at 11:55. It’s four blocks to the planned parenthood.

Backup up plan in case of bad weather: meet at the Dobra’s and we will pray together.

Prayer, public witness of the church, and proclaiming God’s truth and grace. Also a good time for family instruction and discipleship!

WATCH THE MARCH FOR LIFE LIVE

Friday, January 29, 2021 LIVE 12 p.m. ET

Watch the March for Life Rally and LIVE coverage of the March for Life beginning at 12 p.m. ET. The Rally will include inspiring speeches from pro-life leaders, information on how to stay involved in the pro-life movement all year long, and a performance by Christian singer and songwriter Matthew West. After the Rally, join us for LIVE coverage of the March for Life, as a small group of pro-life leaders march in representation of pro-life Americans across the country. https://marchforlife.org/2021-virtual-events/

Family Research Council

FRC’s 16^th annual ProLifeCon will share strategies, resources, and stories of hope to equip you for digital pro-life activism. You will hear from successful pro-life activists and elected officials, as they discuss how they have shared the pro-life message through digital platforms and look ahead to opportunities in the new year.

Tune-in to the broadcast streaming on ProLifeCon.org at 10:00 a.m. EST on Friday, January 29, and on-demand any time thereafter.

Visit ProLifeCon.org to find resources including social media kits, the Top 10 Myths About Abortion, Pro-Life Maps, and more!

40 Days for Life

The March for Life is virtual this year, but you can still take a physical stand for life. You don’t even need to sign up. Just find a prayer partner and stand in peaceful vigil at the 40 Days for Life site nearest you this Friday, January 29.

Find your nearest vigil at 40daysforlife.com/location.
Note: I don’t think there is a local event, but I will be leading prayer walks.

Prayer, public witness of the church, and proclaiming God’s truth and grace.

Why are we here (in this sin fallen world)?
To bear witness to God and His truth and grace.
To make disciples of all nations.
Matthew 28:18-20

Why are we here (on the sidewalk outside an abortion clinic)?
To bear witness to God and His truth and grace.
To love the captive soul and to preach the good news!
Romans 10:14-15

Leviticus 18:21; Matt. 5:17-19; Acts 2:37-41

Household Prayer 1/26/2021

Brothers, pray for the challenge guys camp this weekend. Pray that these young men would develop closer relationships with Jesus and each other. Relationships that transcend this world and life. Pray that the devotionals would instruct and encourage to have a kingdom impact.

Also pray for health in our community. Pray for healing for the sick.

I would encourage loving graceful response to members of our churches that may be concerned about the coming government education mandates. We need to band together to love and serve others if they feel the need to make new educational choices. Pray for the young souls that will be exposed to deviant messages. They need Jesus! Pray for the teachers that would have to make career choices, and those that celebrate deviant education of children. They need Jesus too! (In the competition for “wokest school system of all,” Illinois just might be the winner. https://www.frc.org/updatearticle/20210122/woke-broke)

Read Galatians 5:19-24

BE A FORCE FOR GOOD!

Good vs. Evil, Jedi vs. Darkside, Spirit vs Flesh… there is a battle of good and evil.

Evil, the darkside

Now the works of the flesh are evident: sexual immorality, impurity, sensuality, idolatry, sorcery, enmity, strife, jealousy, fits of anger, rivalries, dissensions, divisions, envy, drunkenness, orgies, and things like these. I warn you, as I warned you before, that those who do such things will not inherit the kingdom of God. Galatians 5:19-21

Good, the Jedi

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law. And those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. Galatians 5:22-24

The Battle

Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might. Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil. For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places. Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand firm.

Stand therefore, having fastened on the belt of truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness, and, as shoes for your feet, having put on the readiness given by the gospel of peace. In all circumstances take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming darts of the evil one; and take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God, praying at all times in the Spirit, with all prayer and supplication. To that end keep alert with all perseverance, making supplication for all the saints, Ephesians 6:10-18

Practical application: Confronting the Mob

How would you respond if confronted by the mob demanding compliance and submission? [BLM Mob https://youtu.be/dSnTTND0UcM ]

The dark side, the mob

They may want justice, but their actions and the justice they demand are not biblical Godly actions and demands for justice. This example is full of…

Enmity: hatred or ill will.

Strife: bitter sometimes violent conflict or dissension.

Jealousy: envious, hostile to those with perceived advantage.

Fits of anger…

The good, the Gospel

How should a disciple of Jesus Christ and witness to the Kingdom of God respond?

Love: Love them. Do not bend to the will of the wicked. Protect innocent life from violence. But understand that they are image bearers of God that have been taken captive by godlessness, so love them.

Peace and Self Control: Do not fear or be incited to anger or strife.

Faithfulness: Share God’s truth and grace with them.

“How then will they call on him in whom they have not believed? And how are they to believe in him of whom they have never heard? And how are they to hear without someone preaching? And how are they to preach unless they are sent? As it is written, “How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the good news!””
Romans 10:14-15 ESV
https://www.bible.com/59/rom.10.14-15.esv

What message are we sharing and bearing witness to?

Hear this! If you desire true reconciliation and justice.

There is a God that created the heavens and the earth, and we are not Him.

He created mankind, the one human race, in His image, male and female He created them.

God determines what is true, good, and just.

We are sinners, we have rebelled against Him, we are liars, thieves, fornicators, adulterers, and blasphemers, and justly deserve our due punishment of death and damnation.

Our sin has created division and racism.

But God is merciful and loving.

Jesus Christ is God the only begotten Son and He was punished and died upon the cross for our sins.

He was buried and three days later rose from the dead, defeating death and securing the hope of our salvation.

We need only confess and repent of our sins, believe Jesus is lord and savior, and we will be forgiven our sins and have life ever after!

“The blood of Christ is sufficient to reconcile us. It is the only thing that can reconcile us. We are one in Christ.”
Dr. Voddie Baucham, Dean of theology at African Christian University in Lusaka, Zambia in “By What Standard? God’s World… God’s Rules”