By Irene Webster
Feb. 16, 2019
God showed us in His Word that evil people would break into other’s home to steal if we are not fully armed, prepared, guarding our homes and belongings.
Luke 11:21-22 When the strong man, fully armed, guards his own house, his belongings are undisturbed and secure. 22 But when someone stronger than he attacks and overpowers him, he robs him of all his armor on which he had relied and divides his [goods as] spoil.
Lord also uses these scriptures to show us how spiritually take back what is ours from Satan, the strong man.
Matthew 12:29 Or how can anyone go into a strong man’s house and steal his property unless he first overpowers and ties up (binds up) the strong man? Then he will ransack and rob his house.
Yet the Lord clearly says to LOVE YOUR ENEMIES
Luke 6:27-36 English Standard Version “But I say to you who hear, Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, 28 bless those who curse you, pray for those who abuse you. 29 To one who strikes you on the cheek, offer the other also, and from one who takes away your cloak do not withhold your tunic either.
30 Give to everyone who begs from you, and from one who takes away your goods do not demand them back. 31 And as you wish that others would do to you, do so to them.
32 “If you love those who love you, what benefit is that to you? For even sinners love those who love them. 33 And if you do good to those who do good to you, what benefit is that to you? For even sinners do the same. 34 And if you lend to those from whom you expect to receive, what credit is that to you? Even sinners lend to sinners, to get back the same amount. 35 But love your enemies, and do good, and lend, expecting nothing in return, and your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High, for he is kind to the ungrateful and the evil. 36 Be merciful, even as your Father is merciful.
If someone hurts you clearly vengeance is God’s to do!
Romans 12:19 Dearly beloved, avenge not yourselves, but rather give place unto wrath: for it is written, Vengeance is mine; I will repay, saith the Lord.
Revenge is God’s job, not ours! We have to seek His help and pray, keep our hearts right but be as wise as serpents but gentle as doves…
So, it is good to love others that persecute you, treat you badly but nothing is mentioned about loving those that steal, and kill. In fact, the Lord clearly wants us to help the helpless, defend the poor, weak and vulnerable.
However, as Christians we are called to value the image of God in the lives of others and to protect the weak and vulnerable.
Isaiah 1:17 Learn to do good. Seek justice, Rebuke the ruthless, Defend the fatherless, Plead for the [rights of the] widow [in court].
Psalm 82:3-4 Defend the poor and orphans. Protect the rights of the poor. Help those who are poor and helpless. Save them from those who are evil.
Proverbs 31:8-9 New International Version
8 Speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves, for the rights of all who are destitute.
9 Speak up and judge fairly; defend the rights of the poor and needy.
In some cases the defense of the weak may require intervention with an attacker. There are countless examples of this taking place in modern times because of demon possessed individuals attempting to murder helpless people. Christians should be prepared! Why? The Word of God gives us both examples in both Old and New Testaments of believers taking steps to defend themselves in case of danger.
In Nehemiah 4:16-18 while the city was being rebuilt the men divided the labor in such a way that half of the people took up spears, shields, and bows while the others worked. Those who carried the loads or built the wall did so with their weapon readily available.
In the New Testament Jesus himself instructed his disciples to sell their cloak and buy swords (Lk. 27:36).
Nehemiah 4:13-14 Amplified Bible (AMP)
13 So I stationed armed men behind the wall in the lowest places, at the open positions [where it was least protected]; and I stationed the people in families with their swords, spears, and bows. 14 When I saw their fear, I stood and said to the nobles and officials and the rest of the people: “Do not be afraid of them; [confidently] remember the Lord who is great and awesome, and [with courage from Him] fight for your brothers, your sons, your daughters, your wives, and for your homes.”
In Exodus 22:2-3
we see God speak to the acceptability of defending one’s home against a thief.
Exodus 22:2-3 If a thief is caught breaking in [after dark] and is struck [by the owner] so that he dies, there shall be no bloodguilt for him. But if the sun has risen, there will be bloodguilt for him. The thief [if he lives] must make [full] restitution; if he has nothing, then he shall be sold [as a slave to make restitution] for his theft.
In Esther we also see the people being given permission by the King to defend themselves.
Esther 8:11 King James Version (KJV)
11 Wherein the king granted the Jews which were in every city to gather themselves together, and to stand for their life, to destroy, to slay and to cause to perish, all the power of the people and province that would assault them, both little ones and women, and to take the spoil of them for a prey,
Esther 9:5 King James Version (KJV)
5 Thus the Jews smote all their enemies with the stroke of the sword, and slaughter, and destruction, and did what they would unto those that hated them.
We are called to fight the good fight!
I Tim 6:12“I have fought the good fight” is also significant for believers today because it serves as a stark reminder that the Christian life is a struggle against evil—within ourselves and in the world.
However, he Greek word agonizomai, translated “fought,” means literally “to engage in conflict.” The word was used in the context of competing in athletic games or engaging in military conflict.
Spiritual warfare is the other half of the fight question!
Matthew 12:29 King James Version (KJV)
29 Or else how can one enter into a strong man’s house, and spoil his goods, except he first binds the strong man? and then he will spoil his house.
The strong man is a reference to Satan. Bind the strong man! Take the authority the Lord gave us.
Luke 10:19 Behold, I give unto you power to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy: and nothing shall by any means hurt you.
Our battle is not with flesh and blood “but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places” (Ephesians 6:12).
The Christian life is a fight in that Christians face a never-ending struggle against evil—not an earthly military campaign, but a spiritual battle against Satan. This is why we must “take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day” (see Ephesians 6:13-18).
1 Tim. 6:12 Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life, whereunto thou art also called, and hast professed a good profession before many witnesses.
In this scripture the Greek word agonizomai, translated “fought,
fight” means literally “to engage in conflict.” It also means to struggle, lit. To compete for a prize, fig to contend with an adversary, or to endeavor, to accomplish something; fight, labor, fervently strive.
The word was used in the context of competing in athletic games or engaging in military conflict. Spiritually our battle is not with flesh and blood “but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places” (Ephesians 6:12).
The Christian life is a fight in that Christians face a never-ending
struggle against evil—not an earthly military campaign, but a spiritual battle against Satan. That is why we need to “take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day” (see Ephesians 6:13-18).
HOWEVER
Scripture also deals with self-defense differently. Being persecuted and being attacked physically appear to be entirely different things.
*Matthew 10:34 “Do not suppose that I have come to bring peace to the earth. I did not come to bring peace, but a sword.
Sword here means 3262 in Strong’s concordance: a knife, i.e. dirk; war, judicial punishment
*Luke 22:38 The disciples said, “See, Lord, here are two swords.” “That’s enough!” he replied.
This is the same sword as we saw in Matthew 10:34, knife, dirk, war, judicial punishment
*****Where it gets confusing we hear Jesus tell the
disciples not to fight back when he was being taken captive by the Roman soldiers in the Garden of Gethsemanes.
*Luke 22:49-51 When Jesus’ followers saw what was going to happen, they said, “Lord, should we strike with our swords?” 50 And one of them struck the servant of the high priest, cutting off his right ear.51 But Jesus answered,
“No more of this!” And he touched the man’s ear and healed him.
Matthew 26:50-55 New International Version (NIV)
50 Jesus replied, “Do what you came for, friend.” [a]
Then the men stepped forward, seized Jesus and arrested him. 51 With that, one of Jesus’ companions reached for his sword, drew it out and struck the servant of the high priest, cutting off his ear.
52 “Put your sword back in its place,” Jesus said to him, “for all who draw the sword will die by the sword. 53 Do you think I cannot call on my Father, and he will at once put at my disposal more than twelve legions of angels? 54 But how then would the Scriptures be fulfilled that say it must happen in this way?”
*Can’t we see that fighting to protect Jesus was an exception and would have stopped God’s sovereign plan to set mankind free from their sins!? We are not also called to be lambs to be slaughtered. He did it for us!
Jesus himself told the disciples to defend themselves.
Luke 22:36 He said to them, “But now if you have a purse, take it, and also a bag; and if you don’t have a sword, sell your cloak and buy one.
Sword again here means 3162 Strong’s concordance a
knife, i.e. dirk; war, judicial punishment.
We can protect ourselves.
Additionally, let’s not forget that those in authority are given the right to bear arms to protect us.
Romans 13:4 For the one in authority is God’s servant for your good. But if you do wrong, be afraid, for rulers do not bear the sword for no reason. They are God’s servants, agents of wrath to bring punishment on the wrongdoer.
In this country the second amendment declares it is our sovereign right to bear arms for self-defense and protection against tyrannical authorities.
Discuss:
Jesus will return someday and he will come with vengeance, with a two edged sword!
Revelation 1:16 In his right hand he held seven stars, and coming out of his mouth was a sharp, double-edged sword. His face was like the sun shining in all its brilliance.
Double edged sword is defined as a sabre, a long and broad cutlass. A sword.
But why double edged? This is a great mystery. Why out of His
mouth??
So until His return, regardless of whether we are fighting a physical battle or enduring a great spiritual battle we are called to fight the good fight of faith and finish the race!!!!!
2 Timothy 2:3 King James Version (KJV)
3 Thou therefore endure hardness, as a good soldier of Jesus Christ.
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Reverend Ken Goodman said this regarding self-defense:
“God never told His people to let the enemy, the enemy soldiers, the intruder, the terrorist, the robber, the thief, the rapist, the pedophile, the mugger or road rage driver just do whatever they want to do to them. Remember Apostle Paul compared spiritual warfare to physically fighting and wrestling against flesh and blood. The whole Armor of God teaching has it’s roots in understanding physically surviving often times comes from physically resisting the enemy and if we are to resist.
We are to fight even eliminate (kill) the enemy if the enemy is trying to kill us. Paul told Timothy to be as a good Soldier to stand your ground do not give in to the enemy spiritually just like a good soldier will fight to his death or the enemy’s death….to fight the only good fight is the fight you win. You live or die in real and serious situations…
In the Bible we are asked which will we choose this day blessing or cursing. life or death…we have a choice. If you do not believe in fighting for your life or being armed for your life that’s your belief. But I plan on living a spiritually victorious life by putting on the tactical armor for protection from the fiery darts of the devil and his principalities and powers and rulers of wickedness and darkness in high places…
BUT those same demonic powers work through and live in some people who will become driven and possessed to kill you physically. Then, to choose life or to even have a choice or a chance to survive we need the equalizer ….is first level if the attacker is threatening or has shown a gun and you do not have a gun, use pepper spray (best is police grade) if the attacker intruder robber has a gun or knife or has made a threat to harm you use the pepper spray to blind him if that is all you have and or preferably quickly pull out and fire your concealed handgun to his chest 2-3 shots .
If someone anyone pulls a weapon knife or gun on you have the laws supporting you to save your life to do whatever you can stop the threat.”
