The Christian and the topics of war and fighting, has been the topic of discussion for a while. Should a Christian be fighting with human guns and weapons and should they be going to war with any one? What does Jesus say about it?
Christ himself said,Joh 18:36" My kingdom is not of this world: if my kingdom were of this world, then would my servants fight, that I should not be delivered to the Jews: but now is my kingdom not from hence."
Is He saying that if His kingdom where like the kingdoms in this world--His servants would fight? That they would operate the way that rulership in this world systems would operate in the world--the servants or citizens of the leaders would fight for their leaders, their countries?
Are we called to be not of this world? Are we called to deal with others not as the world would deal with others?
I think these are questions each of us who Identify with Christ and His Kingdom should ask ourselves when we are asked to do as the world does.We should take note, Jesus specifically says to Peter not to fight--not to operate as the worldly kingdom--not to use authority or power over others--even unto death. Jesus operated 100% of His time in the earth in the right kingdom, do we as followers of Christ? He never used authority over another person, and He specifically told the apostles to operate in the same way (Jesus said it about Himself--!!--this is not an opinion!!!)--especially "amongst yourselves". The kingdom way of operating, according to Jesus" example and doctrine--is to lay down your life--to serve others--to minister to others--not to rule with authority over others.
Drinking the Cup Of Jesus ,as we have seen, the concept of drinking the cup, that Jesus drinks, is one of servanthood. But servanthood in the way of not using authority over others--not ruling but serving God and people.
(Matthew 20: 21-26)
21* And he said unto her, What wilt thou? She saith unto him, Grant that these my two sons may sit, the one on thy right hand, and the other on the left, in thy kingdom. 22* But Jesus answered and said, Ye know not what ye ask. Are ye able to drink of the cup that I shall drink of, and to be baptized with the baptism that I am baptized with? They say unto him, We are able. 23* And he saith unto them, Ye shall drink indeed of my cup, and be baptized with the baptism that I am baptized with: but to sit on my right hand, and on my left, is not mine to give, but it shall be given to them for whom it is prepared of my Father. 24* And when the ten heard it, they were moved with indignation against the two brethren. 25* But Jesus called them unto him, and said, Ye know that the princes of the Gentiles exercise dominion over them, and they that are great exercise authority upon them. 26* But it shall not be so among you: but whosoever will be great among you, let him be your minister;
I think that for the most part Christians are truly clueless as to who they really are, and why they are here as the body of Christ in the World. Many believe that they are to reign in this life and rule over everyone, but is that how Jesus used his authority in this world, really? What authority indeed do we really have In Christ in this world? What really was Jesus' purpose in this life?What was He 'sent' and 'anointed' to do in this world? "The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he hath anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor; he hath sent me to heal the brokenhearted, to preach deliverance to the captives, and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty them that are bruised, To preach the acceptable year of the Lord." (Luke 4:18-19, KJV).
Jesus gave authority (the power to rule over) 3 things.....Really if Christ is our Head and authority, and we are His body, what in this world would Jesus really be doing? It is truly a thought to meditate on this day.
1. Sin. We have the blood of Jesus Christ, which forgives all our sin--(and the sin of all the world!) so that we may have the "free gift" of eternal life. We are saved by grace--not by works--and all that one needs to attain this great salvation is......
"That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. (Romans 10:9, KJV).
In fact, to believe in Jesus, is to accept His apostleship
"For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved." (John 3:16-17, KJV).
Note the word "sent" (Greek: apostello).
"And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent." (John 17:3, KJV).
Jesus was "sent" of the Father--to save us all.
"Wherefore, holy brethren, partakers of the heavenly calling, consider the Apostle and High Priest of our profession, Christ Jesus; (Hebrews 3:1, KJV).
Doesn't this simple Bible verse tell us that we ALL--"brethren (and sisters)"--have an apostolic calling to share the Gospel with others?
2. Sickness and disease.
"And when he had called unto him his twelve disciples, he gave them power against unclean spirits, to cast them out, and to heal all manner of sickness and all manner of disease." (Matthew 10:1, KJV).
Believers have authority over all manner of sickness and disease. Yes, Jesus heals. He healed all who believed 2,000 years ago, and He heals today--if we will believe in Him--in His authority---by faith. Every believer has the the right--the authority--the power to rule over sickness--in the name of Jesus Christ.
Christ within any believer can and should heal.
That is ministry.
3. Satan.
"And these signs shall follow them that believe; In my name shall they cast out devils; they shall speak with new tongues; 18 They shall take up serpents; and if they drink any deadly thing, it shall not hurt them; they shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover." (Mark 16:17-18, KJV).
The Bible says that all believers have the authority to cast out the devil and his demonic forces in the earth. All believers have the victory over every worldly spirit and every deception of the enemy.
God inside gives discernment, but we as believers must speak out our authority--and our authority is meant to be used to help (minister to) others.
We ALL as believers have the right to witness the Gospel, to pray for the sick and to pray for those in need of deliverance.
Remember it this way--you as a believer have....
Authority (the God-given power to rule)--Over--"sin--sickness--and satan"
Notice: the "authority" we all have as believers lines up exactly with the purposes of Christ (luke 4:18--again!)
"The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he hath anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor; he hath sent me to heal the brokenhearted, to preach deliverance to the captives, and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty them that are bruised, To preach the acceptable year of the Lord." (Luke 4:18-19, KJV).
Jesus as a man in the earth, demonstrated His power to rule over these things--and He clearly imparted this authority to all who followed Him by faith. It is His Holy Name that saves--heals and delivers us---and saves--heals and delivers others--through us., the church--His body in the earth, not just you church pastor or minister, but the whole body of Christ in this world, if you are a Christian, a follower of Jesus then that means you and me.
"For the Son of man is as a man taking a far journey, who left his house, and gave authority to his servants,(us) and to every man his work, and commanded the porter to watch." (Mark 13:34)
This is Jesus' description of Himself. He has taken a journey (gone to His place of authority at the right hand of God in heaven). He says very succintly that He has given His authority--to His servants--to "every man (and woman)" his work. Christ's authority is in every one of us--we are ALL called to serve (minister) this authority, and follow His example.
Is that so hard to understand?
Shalom in Christ
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