Living by the sword

If there is any scripture that the judaized masses know by heart other than "thou shall not judge", it is - those who live by the sword shall die by the sword. But just as they take out of context one to support a presupposed position, so do they here - perhaps to justify total inaction.

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Matthew 26:48-56 "... for all they that take the sword shall perish with the sword " (vs. 52)

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Luke 22:47-53 / John 18:1-13

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Note first off, the disciples were in compliance with Christ's order to obtain a sword. And neither did He chastise Peter for having one, or harshly so for using it. The error was in the timing - for Jesus indeed had a Heavenly mission to accomplish.

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Luke 22:36 - " Then He said unto them, But now, he that hath a purse, let him take it, and likewise his scrip: and he that hath no sword, let him sell his garment, and buy one "

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That sounds pretty dramatic to me - you get a sword and sell your coat if ya gotta ... just get one. Why ? Do you suppose it was just for decoration purposes ? Or do you reckon it was because it lined up with other scriptural directives that we are to provide for ourselves and our folk ... that providing including self defense.

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And this command to arm themselves extends also to us, for so were they to teach all things pertaining to Christ -

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Matthew 28:18-20 " ... teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you ..."

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Who is this then that lives by the sword - one who would impose his will, his dictates using violence to achieve that end ? What did that verse in Revelation mention ... captivity ? How about using the term bondage, or a lengthy prison sentence ? How about calling it what it really is - kidnapping.

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" He that stealeth a man, and selleth him, or if he be found in his hand, he shall surely be put to death " Exodus 21:16

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Do we as Christians really take it to heart ... that for us there is only one righteous King, one set of laws, one jurisdiction - to whom do we submit ourselves, body and mind ?

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James 4:12 " There is one lawgiver, who is able to save and destroy : who art thou that judgest another ?"

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Isaiah 33:22 / 43:15 / 44:6-8

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So who is the law breaker, who is the criminal ? Who exalts themselves against our God and supposes to institute another law ? Jesus said there were only two options in who we would serve, for it will indeed be one or the other - God or Caesar (man). And did He not also say that His burden (law which guides us) was light ... in comparision ?

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Much to the dismay of many, the constitution is a flawed, man - made document. I know this raises the dander of many but this only goes to show that another god is being served, and insulted. It doesn't take much study to come to the conclusion, that if we're turning back to Christ - it's all or nothing. We do not need a proxy that only goes so far. Not going to get off on this now (as times past), but if indeed their intentions were so noble in constructing it as Christian men - they fell way short of the mark.

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I want to ask also of my Christian brethren - is all scripture indeed relevant, for our learning and guidance ? What did Christ and the apostles read and refer to ?

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2 Timothy 3:16-17 " All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness :

That the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works "

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Romans 15:4

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Works ... did you catch that ? There's another word some would like to forget.

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But faith without works is dead - (James 2). Would not another word for works be fruit ? Yes, the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, long suffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness and temperance. Does not this behaviour describe us as a people who have long been plundered and abused - but who have failed to understand the reason why ?

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" But this is a people robbed and spoiled; they are all of them snared in holes, and they are hid in prison houses: they are for a prey, and none delivereth; for a spoil, and none saith, restore.

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Who among you will give ear to this ? Who will hearken and hear for the time to come ?

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Who gave Jacob for a spoil, and Israel to the robbers ? Did not the Lord, He against whom we have sinned ? For they would not walk in His ways, neither were they obedient unto His law.

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Therefore He hath poured upon him the fury of His anger, and the strength of battle: and it hath set him on fire round about, yet he knew not; and it burned him, yet he laid it not to heart " Isaiah 42:22-25 (but read the preceding vesrses for the good news).

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" To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven:

A time to be born, and a time to die; a time to plant (sow), and a time to pluck up (reap, harvest) that which is planted;

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A time to kill, and a time to heal; a time to break down, and a time to build up;

... a time to love, and a time to hate; a time of war and a time of peace " Ecclesiastes 3:1-11

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We were to be the salt of the earth. Does not salt compliment, and also doesn't it hold back corruption in its pure form ?

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" Ye are the salt of the earth: but if the salt has lost its savour, wherewith shall it be salted ? It is thenceforth good for nothing, but to be cast out, and to be trodden under foot of men " Matthew 5:13 / Luke 14:34-35

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Good for nothing ! Doesn't this remind you of the scripture in Revelations concerning the lukewarm ? And did not Christ answer His own question here ... explaining to us as He oft times did. How to get "salty" again -

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" Thine own wickedness shall correct thee, and thy backslidings shall reprove thee: know therefore and see that it is an evil thing and bitter, that thou hast forsaken the Lord thy God, and that my fear is not in thee, saith the Lord God of hosts (armies)" Jeremiah 2:19

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" I will go and return to my place, till they acknowledge their offence, and seek my face (2 Chronicles 7:13-14): in their affliction they will seek me early "

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Do we not go to God the Word for our guidance, for answers ?

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" God, who at many times and in various manners spake in times past unto the fathers by the prophets,

Hath in these last days spoken unto us by His Son, whom He hath appointeth heir of all things, by whom also He made the worlds " Hebrews 1:1-2

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" In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God ...

And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth " John 1:1-14

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"Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path "

Psalms 119:105

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Where in the Word would we go for mention of works that are done by faith - works being manifestations based upon Godly faith ? What would of been worthwhile for inclusion, seeing as certainly not all instances and actions could of been recorded. Didn't John even tell us there was not room enough in the world to contain the deeds of Christ ?

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" And there are also many other things which Jesus did, the which, if they should be written every one, I suppose that even the world itself could not contain the books that should be written. Amen." John 21:25

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So what are some of the scriptures that God saw fit to make the list ... how about Hebrews chapter 11. That's new testament (covenant) for all yall not being so led to reference the old (even though this does) -

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" And what more shall I say ? For the time would fail me to tell of Gideon, and of Barak, and of Sampson, and of Jephthae; of David also, and of Samuel, and of the prophets;

Who through faith subdued kingdoms, wrought righteousness, obtained promises, stopped the mouths of lions,

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Quenched the violence of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, out of weakness were made strong, waxed valiant in fight, turned to flight the armies of the aliens, ..."

Hebrews 11:32-34

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But you must read the whole chapter. Do certain circumstances, certain points in time seem to dictate the direction we take ? I think so ... but each will have to make their own determination before God. I strive to understand, to be obedient as each of us must. My question to all is - what of these scriptures ?

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How deep does the fulfillment of obedience indeed go, and just when are our efforts not enough ? Just because we sacrifice in some venue or another, is it enough ? Does a partial commitment rank as enough ?

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" Hear the word of the Lord, ye rulers of Sodom; give ear unto the law of our God, ye people of Gomorrah.

To what purpose is the multitude of your sacrifices unto me ? saith the Lord ....

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Wash you, make you clean; put away the evil of your doings from before mine eyes; cease to do evil;

Learn to do well; seek judgement, relieve the oppressed, avenge the fatherless, plead for the widow." Isaiah 1:1-20

Isaiah 59:1-4,15,19

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I recently posted a link on a blogsite and was slightly reprimanded for doing so. Granted, I posted it on a fellow Christians site and the link itself is not Godly on its cover. But I thought surely by now others have looked beyond the apparent and gleaned some insight that might prove to be helpful. (here's the link - http://www.freetheorder.org/wr.html

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The link was the website - Free the Order (see my link list). It was on the surface a response as to how true Israelites were to treat non - Israelites in general ... regarding "non combatants" was what I was supposing was meant by the request for reader responses.

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The link dwelt very briefly with this subject, and the writer was DISTANCING himself from those of us who act out of blind hatred for all ... mindlessly harming elderly and children just because of their race.

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But my posting it was for other purposes also. I had supposed (evidently wrongly) that my position on being unequally yoked with unbelievers was clear by now ... but does this hamper us from learning from others ? And were we all at one time or another not quite possibly in their shoes ? What exactly did Paul mean by being all things unto all men ?

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" For though I be free from all men, yet have I made myself servant unto all, that I might gain the more.

And unto the Jews (Judeans) I became as a Jew, that I might gain the Jews; to them that are under the law, as under the law;

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To them that are without law, as without law, (being not without law to God, but under the law to Christ) that I might gain them that are without law.

To the weak became I as weak, that I might gain the weak: I am made all things to all men, that I might by all means save some.

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And this I do for the gospel's sake, that I might be partaker thereof with you.

Know ye not that they which run in a race run all, but one receiveth the prize ? So run, that ye may obtain."

1 Corinthians 9:19-24

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Although other gods may be espoused by a few there, have I myself ever ? Do we understand the mindset of all the men mentioned on this site ? Have we troubled to even know that there were Christians among them ... Christian brethren zealous for their God, but growing and learning line upon line the same as ALL of us ?

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Another purpose I intended was to indeed shame us. They had not all the truth but they acted upon what they grasped (the Christians). They had faith in their God to deliver them ... and although most would not see it as that, they do. They do not mock their God for the circumstances they find themselves in, but have only sought a closer walk and deeper understanding. They are my brothers and I will not forget them.

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" Ye have not yet resisted unto blood, striving against sin"

Hebrews 12:4

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In fact, resistance seems almost to leave a bad taint in the mouth of some. I've read where we in effect are to even offer no struggle against those who would tote us straight to the lions den. I do not think this is an accurate Biblical concept for Christians to follow.

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" ... occupy til I come " Luke 19:13 / James 4:7

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Do we have Biblical examples of Godly resistance (I do make that distinction - more to follow) ?

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How about Gideon, the tax protester - Judges 6:11-12

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Or Moses the "assassin" - Exodus 2:11-15

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Or the defiant midwives who defied the edicts of the king -

Exodus 1:15-22

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The book of Judges is replete with examples and with the order in which God allowed dissention; one being -

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Judges 6 and 7 - " And the children of Israel did evil in the sight of the Lord; and the Lord delivered them into the hand of Midian ...

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... And Israel was greatly impoverished because of the Midianites; and the children of Israel cried unto the Lord.

And it came to pass, when the children of Israel cried unto the Lord because of the Midianites, that the Lord sent a prophet unto them (Gideon) ...

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... And the Lord said unto Gideon, the people that are with thee are too many for me to give Midian into their hands, lest Israel vaunt themselves against Me, saying, mine own hand hath saved me ...

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... by the three hundred (a remnant of the original) will I save you ...

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Arise; for the Lord hath delivered into your hand the host of Midian "

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What did Jesus allude to in His parables -

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Matthew 13:27-30 , and even explained further in vss. 37-43.

There is a time to reap (harvest).

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But whom might these angels be ... angelic beings, perhaps.

But the word angel can also be translated as preacher, or a messenger - one who brings the word.

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(Ehud had a message, a word from God - Judges 3:15-30)

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" But the saints of the most High shall take the kingdom, and possess the kingdom for ever, even for ever and ever."

Daniel 7:18

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" (my people) ... reward her even as she has rewarded you, and double unto her double according to her works: in the cup which she hath filled fill to her double,

How much she hath glorified herself, and lived deliciously, so much torment and sorrow give her ...

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... and she shall be utterly burned with fire: for strong is the Lord God who judgeth her" Revelation 18:6-8

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" The Lord hath opened His armoury, and brought forth the weapons of His indignation ...

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The portion of Jacob is not like them, for he is the former of all things: and Israel is the rod of His inheritance: the Lord of hosts is His name.

Thou art my battle axe and weapons of war: for with thee will I break in pieces the nations, and with thee will I destroy the kingdoms ...

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For thus saith the Lord God of hosts, the God of Israel; The daughter of Babylon is like a threshing floor, it is time to thresh her: yet a little while, and the time of her harvest shall come." Jeremiah 50:25 / 51:19-26,33

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Joel 3 / Obadiah / Micah 4:1-13

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This is a hard message to wind down. But I hope continuity can be seen by those who are searching. These scriptures that speak of a cleansing fire ... have you ever comtemplated Christ's words in that light ?

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" I am come to cast fire upon the earth; and how I wish it were already kindled !" Luke 12:49 (NAS)

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" Cursed be he that doeth the work of the Lord deceitfully, and curseth be he that keepeth back his sword from blood."

Jeremiah 48:10

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I had other points I wanted to make and quite a bit more of scripture to tie in ... but I hope all are studying these same matters. God does NOT need us to clean up this mess, but indeed we are the ones responsible. Does anyone else ever get the feeling He may be thinking - well, what are ya waiting on ?

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Do we love our lives unto death, foregoing these weightier matters - or do we honestly believe He has conquered death for us ... and has promised us life eternal.

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Also, just where was the judgement clause removed from our obligation to keep His law -

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" Because sentence against an evil work is not executed speedily, therefore the heart of the sons of men is fully set in them to do evil " Ecclesiastes 8:11

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" ... Thus saith the Lord, Because thou hast let go out of thy hand a man whom I appointed to utter destruction, therefore thy life shall go for his life, and thy people for his people."

1 Kings 20:42

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I should close with this, and follow up with a later post - one cannot serve a king outside of His jurisdiction. You cannot expect His blessings nor possess justification. In essence, one would be numbered among the enemy themselves. Let us all prayerfully consider these things and return to our great King and Saviour Jesus Christ. For there is none other name under heaven by which we can be saved.