If you could have the spoils of war or the blessings of the Lord which would you choose? As for me and my house we choose the Blessings.
I suppose it would help if I offered you my perceptive of spoils of war vs. blessings of the Lord. When I think on the spoils of war, I understand that Gold, Silver and many precious things may reside in the midst of the rubble. Already a point made ... in the midst of the rubble, not to mention the shed blood and the stench of death.
Where life, health, peace, joy and love had once been; now broken homes, looted businesses, weeping, sorrow, heartache, and orphaned children. Although there is stuff in the debris, it is stuff that has lost value because of the effects of war, broken shards that were once crystal vases, fine linens and name brand clothing but they are stained and torn, food is there but may be contaminated. Have I begin to paint you a picture.
One of my favorite text in the bible is from Psalms 46 ..."He maketh wars to cease unto the end of the earth; he breaketh the bow, and cutteth the spear in sunder .... "
I am so exhausted with people who are always in some spiritual war zone. I choose peace. I choose blessing. I choose life. Life that was offered me through the shed blood of Jesus Christ.
There was a war ... it did rage. But the war I am speaking of was not a flesh war, it was a war within the realms of principalities and powers. Ego had been put away in the Garden (personal will put aside for God's best life through the mortification of the lust of the flesh).
Blood was shed ONCE, and for ALL, if we ever find in our hearts to believe and receive it. Jesus, Himself, spoiled principalities and powers making a show of them openly; and for whosoever will ... has caused wars to cease.
The fight for those found in Christ is simply this, 'THE GOOD FIGHT OF FAITH.' And as many have said before me, 'it is a good fight, because it is a fight in which the outcome is sure.' Faith is always the Victory!
Faith is the substance of things hope for, the evidence of things not seen. I understand that we have an enemy, but we also have already been made over-comers in this life, and in the life to come. Our job is to hold fast our profession of faith without wavering. It is not to wage war ... the battle is over.
There is no peace in war. I am not saying peace can not come out of war. When Hitler was igniting his war against the Jews, and everyone that did not surrender under his hand of tyranny, war was inevitable, and once the enemy was defeated, peace came to many lands. But those are flesh wars ... brought on by Ego and the need for power.
That same struggle for power, causes a war to rage within the human soul. The need for position, attention, and control.
Many people are looking to be led by the Spirit, and yet dealing with fighting within and without. Fighting that drown out the still small voice, and keeping them from going out in peace, and going forth in joy. Don't you think it is time to quite ourselves as a weaned child and find strength in our quietness and confidence?
Quietness and confidence does not mean that we do no have a voice. But it is a voice that carries weight without wars. It is a voice of wisdom, knowledge and good understanding. It is a voice backed by a supernatural God who can and will back faith's integrity. It a a voice given to prayer ... it is a life given to meditation ... and feet given to action!
As Jesus walked with us revealing God and teaching us how to live the good life. His voice was powerful enough to quiet the power seeking religious of the day, as well as shut devils up and evict them from peoples lives. But I never once recall him raging a war with the religious or with governments.
When someone knows who they are and who their God is, they recognize the shoulders upon which the government rest. They understand their authority and power of their own voice.
The most angry we see Jesus, was in the temple putting out the money changers and those who were setting themselves up in the place of prayer for the nations. And yet his anger was without sin. His zeal was admirable.
Zeal ... interesting word isn't it?
Zeal: Eagerness and ardent interest in pursuit of something.
What are you zealous about?
Zealous enough to allow turn your swords to be beaten into plowshares, and spears into pruning hooks.
Are you zealous enough to clear a place of prayer for the nations? Would you rather war on and go through life covering over the dead? Do you want to keep breathing in the smoke, and kicking through the trash from effects of the battle?
Breaking fallow ground and learning to keep the tops of your harvest in check seems to be way more productive and godly than warring. Warring which leaves children orphaned, women widowed, families separated and poverty a place, all in the name of power.
