perjantai 24. tammikuuta 2025

Reflections on Shabat, January 24, 2025



  Many mass graves of war dead testify to the destruction caused by worldly weapons of war. May we, believers in Yeshua, not be involved in such wars! The exodus of the people of Israel from slavery in Egypt is in many ways a model for us believers in the New Covenant. Likewise, we have been called out of slavery to the prince of this world, the Devil, and to rely solely on Adonai Yeshua the Mashiach in everything. Our weapons are not physical but spiritual. We should not wage war with worldly weapons, but with the weapons given by the Holy Spirit.


Nations can be freed from slavery without deadly weapons

  According to history, the British colonial rule in India killed 165 million people. A figure that exceeds the total number of deaths in both world wars, including the Nazi Holocaust.
https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/india/independence-day-165-million-unaccounted-indian-victims-of-the-british-colonial-regime/articleshow/102696431.cms?from=mdr

  India was liberated from that murderous embrace of Britain through active passive resistance. They refused to fight and obey their occupiers! Years of non-violent resistance to British rule led by Mahatma Gandhi, Jawaharlal Nehru and others finally led to India's independence in 1947.
https://www.britannica.com/question/How-did-India-gain-independence-from-British-rule  

  We see from the above that even ordinary passive resistance can lead to liberation from the yoke of violence. It may take many years, but with the grace of the Almighty it will eventually produce the desired result. How much more will the Almighty be willing and able to help us, the saints of the New Covenant, if we do not fight against our enemies with earthly weapons!


What are heavenly spiritual weapons like?

Some of them is told.  During Old Covenant happened the following: 2 Chr. 20:14-17

>>14 Then in the midst of the assembly, the Adonai's Spirit came upon Jachaziel son of Zechariah, son of Benaiah, son of Jeiel, son of Mattaniah, a Levite and descendant of Asaph. 15 He said: "Pay attention, all you people of Judah, residents of Jerusalem, and King Jehoshaphat! This is what the Adonai says to you: 'Don't be afraid and don't panic because of this huge army! For the battle is not yours, but Elohim's.

16 Tomorrow march down against them as they come up the Ascent of Ziz. You will find them at the end of the ravine in front of the Desert of Jeruel. 17 You will not fight in this battle. Take your positions, stand, and watch the Adonai deliver you, O Judah and Jerusalem. Don't be afraid and don't panic! Tomorrow march out toward them; the Adonai is with you!'<<

  And so it happened, for the attackers killed one another to the last man, after the Israelites first began to praise Yehowah: 2 Chr. 20:21-24

- - -

  We find another example from the time of King Hezekiah in Kingdom of Judah, when his army was faced with an enemy that was completely superior to his: 2 Kings 19:35-36

>>35 That very night the angel of Yehowah went out and killed 185,000 men in the Assyrian camp. When they got up early the next morning, there were all the corpses. 36 So King Sennacherib of Assyria broke camp and went on his way. He went home and stayed in Nineveh.<<

  Since Yehowah saved earthly Israel, who relied on him alone for help, when attacked by a superior enemy, how much more will he help us, the saints of the New Covenant, believers in Adonai Yeshua! Today, Adonai Yeshua has all power in Heaven and on Earth! He has given us, his believers the most precious promises, he earned with his own blood on the Calvary: Matt. 18:19

>>Again, I tell you the truth, if two of you on earth agree about whatever you ask, my Father in heaven will do it for you.<<


Some NT commandments prohibit all use of violence

  There are many teachings of Adonai Yeshua and here are five of them for us, to his disciples: (But if you have not born again through the Holy Spirit, you can't understand any of these!)

1) Matt. 5:38-39 
>>38 "You have heard that it was said, 'An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth.' 39 But I say to you, do not resist the evildoer. But whoever strikes you on the right cheek, turn the other to him as well.<<

2) Matt. 5:43-45 >>43 "You have heard that it was said, 'Love your neighbor' and 'hate your enemy.' 44 But I say to you, love your enemy and pray for those who persecute you, 45 so that you may be like your Father in heaven, since he causes the sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous.<<

3) Matt. 7:12 
>>In everything, treat others as you would want them to treat you, for this fulfills the law and the prophets.<<

4) Luke 6:35 
>>But love your enemies, and do good, and lend, expecting nothing back. Then your reward will be great, and you will be sons (or daughters) of the Most High, because he is kind to ungrateful and evil people.<<

5) Matt. 26:52
>>Then Yeshua said to him, "Put your sword back in its place! For all who take hold of the sword will die by the sword.<<

  The armor listed by the apostle Paul does not include any earthly weapons, but all of them are spiritual! Ephes. 6:12-13...(Read also the full context, verses 10-18)
>>12 For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world rulers of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavens. 13 For this reason, take up the full armor of Elohim so that you may be able to stand your ground on the evil day, and having done everything, to stand.<<

  The very important warning from our Father Yehowah Elohim to everyone of us: Rev. 13:10
>>If anyone leads into captivity, into captivity he himself will go; if anyone kills with the sword, with the sword he must be killed. Here is the patience and faith of the saints.<< 
Note that: This verse is correctly translated from the Greek Textus Receptus NT! In the most Bible translations, this verse has been falsified, to justify and approve of warfare!

  All believers in Yeshua, who do not believe in his omnipotence even in times of war, are permitted to take up earthly weapons to defend themselves, their neighbors, and their homeland, but if they are obedient to the above-mentioned commandments, they and their loved ones will be spared much evil! They will then see and experience the promised help of our Creator for them.


Why nations yet nowadays make war against each others?
  
  Of the slightly more than 8 billion people in the world, 2.63 billion, or almost 1/3, were Christians in 2024. Of these, according to my estimate, only a fraction, perhaps 1/100, or only 26.3 million, were born again and filled with the Holy Spirit! *), **) and ***) The majority of them live in Western democracies, where the majority, i.e. pagans and nominal Christians, decide on warfare.

  Therefore, it is understandable that if, for example, the USA, Israel and Finland were to unilaterally decide to completely abolish their armies, the possessed pagan nations would very soon take over their countries and, at best, make them 'merely' slaves! We therefore live in a world where the forces of evil currently rule all nations, regardless of their form of government.

*) Luke 13:23-27 (The exhortation to fight for the faith belongs to all believers in Yeshua!)
>>23 Someone asked him, "Adonai, will only a few be saved?" So he said to them, 24 "Exert every effort to enter through the narrow door, because many, I tell you, will try to enter and will not be able to.

25 Once the head of the house gets up and shuts the door, then you will stand outside and start to knock on the door and beg him, 'Adonai, let us in!' But he will answer you, 'I don't know where you come from.'

26 Then you will begin to say, 'We ate and drank in your presence, and you taught in our streets.' 27 But he will reply, 'I don't know where you come from! Go away from me, all you evildoers!'<<

**) Isaiah 1:17-20 (Here is the only reason for peace and war, for Yehowah decrees them!)
>>17 Learn to do what is right! Promote justice! Give the oppressed reason to celebrate! Take up the cause of the orphan! Defend the rights of the widow! 18 Come, let's consider your options," says the Yehowah. "Though your sins have stained you like the color red, you can become white like snow; though they are as easy to see as the color scarlet, you can become white like wool. 19 If you have a willing attitude and obey, then you will again eat the good crops of the land. 20 But if you refuse and rebel, you will be devoured by the sword." Know for certain that the Yehowah has spoken.<<

***) Philipp. 2:12-13 (An exhortation to continuous sanctification and faith for us who are born again!)
>>12 Wherefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling. 13 For it is Elohim which works in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure.<<


A 1000-year period of peace is about to begin

  Then the Prince of Peace, Yeshua Mashiach, will bring peace to all nations. But before that, the Third World War will break out, and for the next Shabat I will be picking up prophecies about it from the Bible, the Old and New Testaments.


Songs suitable for the topic

Please, note: Our Savior's original name in Hebrew is Yeshua HaMashiach HaNotzri


P.S. You can check out the interesting stages of my life from the link below. My life has been a great adventure. There have been successes and setbacks. Adonai Yeshua has always helped me!
klo
Tunnisteet:
Sijainti: Turku, Suomi

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