Revelation 12:7-12
Now war arose in heaven, Michael and his angels fighting against the dragon. And the dragon and his angels fought back, 8 but he was defeated, and there was no longer any place for them in heaven. 9 And the great dragon was thrown down, that ancient serpent, who is called the devil and Satan, the deceiver of the whole world— he was thrown down to the earth, and his angels were thrown down with him.
10 And I heard a loud voice in heaven, saying, “Now the salvation and the power and the kingdom of our God and the authority of his Christ have come, for the accuser of our brothers[brothers and sisters] has been thrown down, who accuses them day and night before our God. 11 And they have conquered him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony, for they loved not their lives even unto death. 12 Therefore, rejoice, O heavens and you who dwell in them! But woe to you, O earth and sea, for the devil has come down to you in great wrath, because he knows that his time is short!”
Luke 10:18-20
18 And he said to them, “I saw Satan fall like lightning from heaven. 19 Behold, I have given you authority to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy, and nothing shall hurt you. 20 Nevertheless, do not rejoice in this, that the spirits are subject to you, but rejoice that your names are written in heaven.”
John had a unique view of life on earth, he'd been with Jesus, Son of God, as he died for our sins. John believed evil walked the earth. We have the joy of knowing the devil was thrown out of Heaven. No longer would there be conversations like the one carried out in the Book of Job.
We are also fortunate in being after Jesus was resurrected, in knowing, in our baptism, we have the Seal of the Holy Spirit. Protecting us from this kind of evil. Baptism is the promise to be fulfilled with the sustaining life of the Holy Spirit within us.
Romans 8:38
For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers,nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Romans 8:26
Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness. For we do not know what to pray for as we ought, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words.
Romans 8:24-39
For in this hope we were saved. Now hope that is seen is not hope. For who hopes for what he sees? 25 But if we hope for what we do not see, we wait for it with patience.
26 Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness. For we do not know what to pray for as we ought, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words. 27 And he who searches hearts knows what is the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints according to the will of God. 28 And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose. 29 For those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, in order that he might be the firstborn among many brothers. 30 And those whom he predestined he also called, and those whom he called he also justified, and those whom he justified he also glorified.
31 What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? 32 He who did not spare his own Son but gave him up for us all, how will he not also with him graciously give us all things? 33 Who shall bring any charge against God's elect? It is God who justifies. 34 Who is to condemn? Christ Jesus is the one who died—more than that, who was raised— who is at the right hand of God, who indeed is interceding for us. 35 Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or danger, or sword? 36 As it is written, “For your sake we are being killed all the day long; we are regarded as sheep to be slaughtered.”
37 No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. 38 For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, 39 nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.
The most difficult university to gain admittance to in the United States of America is the Air Force Academy. I was talking today to a recent graduate and we spoke of overcoming difficulties teaches us to see life with more wisdom. Perhaps to worry less. This is our family friend who has the Brightness of God in him. Wisdom. Jesus bless and protect him as he serves our nation in the Air Force.
And we talked about Isis and laughed a little at Isis at a a major WWE Pro Wrestling Event in Atlanta. I doubt laughing in the face of terrorism is a bad thing. However being shot at and bombed by people screaming "God is Good" is far from what God who creates the Universe and by His Word we have Life would intend. And we did agree, in our talk, terrorism tries to isolate people from others and strike them down. Which makes things difficult for the trained disaster responders to do their jobs. We did agree that taking safety measures in concealed handgun permits is probably an excellent idea.
Is this the devil? This is an outbreak of evil. The evil one has the stink of wanting to hurt. The Bible urges us to turn the other cheek, Christians were famous for being burned at the stake in the Coliseum.
Henryk Siemiradzk
However, the truth is people did die and others prepared to do God's Word and Will and Works in protect and defend and find ways forward to Live for Jesus Christ.
We should not believe dying without a fight is what 1st, 2nd, 3rd and 4th century Christians did. The Isaiah Scroll exists from people fleeing evil. These Scriptures exist from Papyrus 46 300 Chapters because people thought and planned like Moses, Joshua, Paul, John, Mark, Luke, Timothy, Titus - people who wanted their belief in Jesus to Live and To Carry On.
This is Scripture
So if we need some Biblical truths about protecting ourselves and others - let's think about that.
We've spoken recently about Todd Beamer, Mark Bingham, Tom Burnett, and Jeremy Glick Lou Nacke, Rich Guadagno, Alan Beaven, Honor Elizabeth Wainio, Linda Gronlund, and William Cashman, Sandra Bradshaw and Cee Cee Ross-Lyles.
Romans 12:21
Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good
Psalm 82:3
Defend the weak and the fatherless; uphold the cause of the poor and the oppressed.
Titus 2:7
In everything set them an example by doing what is good. In your teaching show integrity, seriousness
Balance. Not to the Right or Left. Courage. Leadership.
Joshua knew something about Courage. He had Moabites from Moses' family. He had Canaanites later from Rahab. He did not use troubled times to become racist. Jesus in Arabic is Yeshua. Yeshua is a lot like Joshua. Jesus told us to realize God wants to save the World. He did never intend for us to hunker down in fear or be racist. Realize Ruth was probably dark skinned. David was ruddy, from the red earth just like Adam - Eve's mitochondrial DNA is African. Jesus' family is very blended.
Father God wants to save The World. He just never intended us to think we should not be bold. Protect others and ourselves. We have concealed handgun laws in 48 states. God said deliver the weak.
Father God,
Each day, gather us to You, that in Your Mercy, Your Will and in Your Glory, we might be sustained to do all the good works You have prepared for us to do.
Open our hearts to be Loving, and to be wise, that we may walk with You in the ways You would have us go.
Deliver us from Evil and Temptation. Help us in troubled times not to be haters and instead be people who pray. And know You Love all Nations and would have Your Son, Jesus, Save the World.
Help us to live in safety and tell others of the way God's Love sustains us and empowers us and cheers us and encourages us.
In the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.
♔ Lord Jesus Saves †
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