WAR, WHAT IS IT GOD FOR?
Theme: War! What is it God for?
A Biblical take on reconciling temporal gory with eternal glory, and the part war plays in the good news of the gospel story
- Gory
- Glory
- Gospel Warfare Story
The Great D.A.R.E: Death And Resurrection Experience
“worship experience” culture, and the regular cry from leaders as to why people are so self-oriented in their expression, many of the songs are about us, and our experience, our needs, our brokenness, all of which are part of our Christian reality, however us our, and worship is being a living sacrifice, the term “come to a worship experience” implies you have these glorified moments, but biblically worship is a lifestyle. However we can have special moments. But what we are emphasizing with the DARE, is that we need to die daily and be resurrection people. Now worship in spirit in truth, not based on feelings, not based on circumstances, but based on GOD, who he is, what he is doing, and we are reconciled with him. We are resurrected with Christ. We partake of the newness of life.
The great thing about NT worship lifestyle, is from the moment we awake, the spirit that raised Christ from the dead is IN us. Partnering w God in that spirit as more than conquerors.
WHO GOES TO WAR? ON THEIR OWN? AT THEIR OWN EXPENSE?
Who goes to war?:
Natural: Various situations - government has a clear mandate
OT - God called nation to warfare and provided warfare strategies during wars (stopped the sun and did various things to enforce victory)
NT
Romans 13:1-7
Let everyone be subject to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which God has established. The authorities that exist have been established by God. Consequently, whoever rebels against the authority is rebelling against what God has instituted, and those who do so will bring judgment on themselves. For rulers hold no terror for those who do right, but for those who do wrong. Do you want to be free from fear of the one in authority? Then do what is right and you will be commended. 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. Therefore, it is necessary to submit to the authorities, not only because of possible punishment but also as a matter of conscience. This is also why you pay taxes, for the authorities are God’s servants, who give their full time to governing. Give to everyone what you owe them: If you owe taxes, pay taxes; if revenue, then revenue; if respect, then respect; if honor, then honor.
Revelation 19 and 20 - Jesus comes back to rule and reign and wage war on his enemies - those who deliberately chose to oppose God and attack His people.
Some say this Is just allegorical. Bible doesn’t say it, and if that’s the case, is Heaven only an allegorical notion? If it’s only allegorical, does that not mean that the cross was a waste of time? If only allegorical there would be no eternal consequence for sin or rejecting God.
Kingdom suffers violence, violent take it by force (Matt 11:12)
Took captivity Captive (Ephesians 4:8)
Are born again Bible believers called to be pacifists
Luke 3:14 And the soldiers likewise demanded of him, saying, And what shall we do? And he said unto them, Do violence to no man, neither accuse any falsely; and be content with your wages.
This is not saying they shouldn’t be soldiers or engage in warfare. The word violence here indicates a different kind of violence than fighting - it indicates manipulation, wrongfully asserting your power, or using war for your own personal end - https://www.blueletterbible.org/lexicon/g1286/kjv/tr/0-1/
Read Bonhoffer’s story - this was the dilemma they faced, do we resist Hitler?
Was there an alternative to war in regard to stopping Hitler’s barbaric campaign to rule the world and annihilate The Jewish people?
Spiritual: Every born again Bible believer is called to war
Kingdom suffers violence, violent take it by force (Matt 11:12)
Took captivity Captive (Ephesians 4:8)
New testament emphasis, particularly in the gospels/beatitudes and the letters/epistles (E.g. 2 Corinthians) clearly states the weapons of OUR warfare are not carnal. But that’s specifically the church. In terms of the full meaning and outworking of the kingdom requires further study. Revelation 19/20 clearly indicates violence in the natural. It doesn’t specifically state the church, some believe it relates to Israel, however in line with our general prophetic policy, let’s pray what happens and diligently seek the scriptures.
On their own?
Proverbs 24:6 For by wise counsel you will wage war, And in a multitude of counselors there is safety.
Allies important - Abraham helped slaughter the kings of old (Gen 14:13-16)
At their own expense?
1 Corinthians 9:7 Who ever goes to war at his own expense? Who plants a vineyard and does not eat of its fruit? Or who tends a flock and does not drink of the milk of the flock?
THE MYSTERY OF INIQUITY
James where do wars come from -
James 4:1-10 Where do wars and fights come from among you? Do they not come from your desires for pleasure that war in your members? You lust and do not have. You murder and covet and cannot obtain. You fight and war. Yet you do not have because you do not ask. You ask and do not receive, because you ask amiss, that you may spend it on your pleasures. Adulterers and adulteresses! Do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity with God? Whoever therefore wants to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God. Or do you think that the Scripture says in vain, “The Spirit who dwells in us yearns jealously”? But He gives more grace. Therefore He says:
“God resists the proud,
But gives grace to the humble.”
Therefore submit to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you. Draw near to God and He will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners; and purify your hearts, you double-minded. Lament and mourn and weep! Let your laughter be turned to mourning and your joy to gloom. Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and He will lift you up.
War is a part of reality. Does it have purpose? - Yes
God calls us to align with His plans, rather than an us versus them mentality
Joshua 5:13-15 And it came to pass, when Joshua was by Jericho, that he lifted his eyes and looked, and behold, a Man stood opposite him with His sword drawn in His hand. And Joshua went to Him and said to Him, “Are You for us or for our adversaries?” So He said, “No, but as Commander of the army of the Lord I have now come.” And Joshua fell on his face to the earth and worshiped, and said to Him, “What does my Lord say to His servant?” Then the Commander of the Lord’s army said to Joshua, “Take your sandal off your foot, for the place where you stand is holy.” And Joshua did so.
Topic: God is a man of war
God is God, God determines The Who, what, where, why, when and how of God - we don't.
The wonder worship word will ways works and wisdom of God, we don’t .
One of the core “I am’s” of God’s character and nature is “I am that I am” - I am a man of war and that’s the way it is, people.
Yes we can receive revelation, especially how that reconciles to God being love, but to imagine and argue for there to be a better way of God being love without war existing is basically foolishness and pride. It’s believing you know better than God.
So what does God say?
Corinthians 10:11 Now all these things happened to them as examples, and they were written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the ages have come.
Luke 24:25-27 He said to them, “How foolish you are, and how slow to believe all that the prophets have spoken! Did not the Messiah have to suffer these things and then enter his glory?” And beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, he explained to them what was said in all the Scriptures concerning himself.
Exodus 15:3 God is a a man of war, The Lord is His name
(Exodus 15:1 – 20 – fuller context)
Isaiah 42:13 The lord shall go for the like a mighty man ; He shall stir up his zeal like a man of war.
Genesis 14 : Abraham defeats the kings who took away Lot and Sodom and Gomorrah
1 Chron 28:3 - God said to me “You shall not build a houses for My name, because you have been a man of war and have shed blood.’
Judges 3:2 the children of Israel might be taught to know war, at least those who had not formerly known it.
Deuteronomy 9:4
Speak not thou in thine heart, after that the Lord thy God hath cast them out from before thee, saying, For my righteousness the Lord hath brought me in to possess this land: but for the wickedness of these nations the Lord doth drive them out from before thee.
15:1 Samuel also said unto Saul, The Lord sent me to anoint thee to be king over his people, over Israel: now therefore hearken thou unto the voice of the words of the Lord. 2 Thus saith the Lord of hosts, I remember that which Amalek did to Israel, how he laid wait for him in the way, when he came up from Egypt. 3 Now go and smite Amalek, and utterly destroy all that they have, and spare them not; but slay both man and woman, infant and suckling, ox and sheep, camel and ass. God did a much broader exercise of mass destruction with the flood in Noah’s day. This too included Banes and sucklings Gdo is a potter Romans God could have taken any innocents including Babes and sucklings to be with Himnself for eternity King David’’s statement I shall go to Him when child of adultery dies indicating God takes innocent Babes and sucklings to be with Him To be present with The Lord is a better place 4 And Saul gathered the people together, and numbered them in Telaim, two hundred thousand footmen, and ten thousand men of Judah. 5 And Saul came to a city of Amalek, and laid wait in the valley. 6 And Saul said unto the Kenites, Go, depart, get you down from among the Amalekites, lest I destroy you with them: for ye shewed kindness to all the children of Israel, when they came up out of Egypt. So the Kenites departed from among the Amalekites. 7 And Saul smote the Amalekites from Havilah until thou comest to Shur, that is over against Egypt. 8 And he took Agag the king of the Amalekites alive, and utterly destroyed all the people with the edge of the sword. 9 But Saul and the people spared Agag, and the best of the sheep, and of the oxen, and of the fatlings, and the lambs, and all that was good, and would not utterly destroy them: but every thing that was vile and refuse, that they destroyed utterly. 10 Then came the word of the Lord unto Samuel, saying, 11 It repenteth me that I have set up Saul to be king: for he is turned back from following me, and hath not performed my commandments.
Revelation 19: 10 And I fell at his feet to worship him. And he said unto me, See thou do it not: I am thy fellowservant, and of thy brethren that have the testimony of Jesus: worship God: for the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy. 11 And I saw heaven opened, and behold a white horse; and he that sat upon him was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness he doth judge and make war. 12 His eyes were as a flame of fire, and on his head were many crowns; and he had a name written, that no man knew, but he himself. 13 And he was clothed with a vesture dipped in blood: and his name is called The Word of God. 14 And the armies which were in heaven followed him upon white horses, clothed in fine linen, white and clean. 15 And out of his mouth goeth a sharp sword, that with it he should smite the nations: and he shall rule them with a rod of iron: and he treadeth the winepress of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God. 16 And he hath on his vesture and on his thigh a name written, KING OF KINGS, AND LORD OF LORDS. 17 And I saw an angel standing in the sun; and he cried with a loud voice, saying to all the fowls that fly in the midst of heaven, Come and gather yourselves together unto the supper of the great God; 18 that ye may eat the flesh of kings, and the flesh of captains, and the flesh of mighty men, and the flesh of horses, and of them that sit on them, and the flesh of all men, both free and bond, both small and great. 19 And I saw the beast, and the kings of the earth, and their armies, gathered together to make war against him that sat on the horse, and against his army. 20 And the beast was taken, and with him the false prophet that wrought miracles before him, with which he deceived them that had received the mark of the beast, and them that worshipped his image. These both were cast alive into a lake of fire burning with brimstone. 21 And the remnant were slain with the sword of him that sat upon the horse, which sword proceeded out of his mouth: and all the fowls were filled with their flesh.
Revelation 20:7 – 10 7 And when the thousand years are expired, Satan shall be loosed out of his prison, 8 and shall go out to deceive the nations which are in the four quarters of the earth, Gog and Magog, to gather them together to battle: the number of whom is as the sand of the sea. 9 And they went up on the breadth of the earth, and compassed the camp of the saints about, and the beloved city: and fire came down from God out of heaven, and devoured them. 10 And the devil that deceived them was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone, where the beast and the false prophet are, and shall be tormented day and night for ever and ever.
PEACE
When speaking about war, we also need to talk about peace, and while God is a man of war, he is also the Prince of Peace. (Isaiah 9)
Peace in our time: Chamberlain made huge error of judgement trusting Hitler
False peace: Chinese woman experience, Satan Angel of light including her false peace that almost resulted in her suicide
God deals with people en mass, including by nation
What is in peoples heart reveals the true state of the nation from God’s perspective (1 Samuel 8 - unforeseen consequences)
Peace Makers not just peace keepers.
Matt 5:9 Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God.
Romans 12:18 If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone.
Hebrews 12:14 Make every effort to live in peace with everyone and to be holy; without holiness no one will see the Lord.
PROPHETIC PERSPECTIVE
Wars, rumors of wars (matt 24:613) — rather than dooms day, it’s womb’s day
Yes, when you wake up some mornings it can feel like there’s a war going on, please note biblically, the morning is a womb.
Yes, women, matters of the womb can feel like there’s a war, but the womb is where life comes from and the victory is won
Gen 3: 14 So the Lord God said to the serpent, “Because you have done this,
“Cursed are you above all livestock
and all wild animals!
You will crawl on your belly
and you will eat dust
all the days of your life.
And I will put enmity
between you and the woman,
and between your offspring and hers;
he will crush your head,
and you will strike his heel.”
16 To the woman he said,
“I will make your pains in childbearing very severe;
with painful labor you will give birth to children.
Your desire will be for your husband
and he will rule over you.”
- Saul commanded to kill everyone including the toddlers - abhorrent to natural mind
- Whole population except Noah family wiped out - included infants - abhorrent to natural mind.
Part of the abhorrence of war is death, but for believers death is not the end - it’s the beginning of what’s way better.
King David - babe conceived through adultery died - David said “I will go to him” - bible scholars indicate that this means during period of innocence, God will not send them to hell (including those in the womb) - 2 Samuel 12
BID
Are you ready for war, for the great eternal dare
If you want temerity you need to die, but not physically
ADDITTIONAL NOTES
REALITY OF WAR
Scripturally, there were rules for war in Deut 20
https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Deuteronomy%2020&version=ERV
Goodness overcomes evil - we’re called to overcome evil with goodness. Rules of war are a reflection of the paradox of temporal reality. Evil exists and because of Adam’s sin, human beings are sinners, do have a sinful nature, that is a part of why war happens. But human beings are made in the image of God and do also carry intentions and desires for good. We’re made in the image of God - it’s this element that tempers the reality of war by having rules for said war.
Romans 13 mandate to bare the sword? - part of reality
Crusades - do your full homework, don’t just be a headline grabber, a click bait swallower. Whatever the full picture of the crusades is and was, it doesn’t represent the whole church. It doesn’t represent God as such
Even when God does ordain war (like Israelites taking promised land), it doesn’t mean everything the people doing the war is God ordained if they don’t walk in obedience.
US Civil War .2.0 - check out Rick Joiners call to arms