Hebrews 4:12 For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.
13. For, brethren, ye have been called unto liberty; only use not liberty for an occasion to the flesh, but by love serve one another. 14. For all the law is fulfilled in one word, even in this; Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. 15. But if ye bite and devour one another, take heed that ye be not consumed one of another. 16. This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh. 17. For the flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh: and these are contrary the one to the other: so that ye cannot do the things that ye would.
12. Seeing then that we have such hope, we use great plainness of speech: 13. And not as Moses, which put a vail over his face, that the children of Israel could not stedfastly look to the end of that which is abolished: 14. But their minds were blinded: for until this day remaineth the same vail untaken away in the reading of the old testament; which vail is done away in Christ. 15. But even unto this day, when Moses is read, the vail is upon their heart. 16. Nevertheless when it shall turn to the Lord, the vail shall be taken away. 17. Now the Lord is that Spirit: and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty. 18. But we all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord.
7. Will the Lord cast off for ever? and will he be favourable no more? 8. Is his mercy clean gone for ever? doth his promise fail for evermore? 9. Hath God forgotten to be gracious? hath he in anger shut up his tender mercies? Selah. 10. And I said, This is my infirmity: but I will remember the years of the right hand of the most High. 11. I will remember the works of the LORD: surely I will remember thy wonders of old. 12. I will meditate also of all thy work, and talk of thy doings. 13. Thy way, O God, is in the sanctuary: who is so great a God as our God? 14. Thou art the God that doest wonders: thou hast declared thy strength among the people. 15. Thou hast with thine arm redeemed thy people, the sons of Jacob and Joseph. Selah. 16. The waters saw thee, O God, the waters saw thee; they were afraid: the depths also were troubled. 17. The clouds poured out water: the skies sent out a sound: thine arrows also went abroad. 18. The voice of thy thunder was in the heaven: the lightnings lightened the world: the earth trembled and shook. 19. Thy way is in the sea, and thy path in the great waters, and thy footsteps are not known. 20. Thou leddest thy people like a flock by the hand of Moses and Aaron.
In the old American educational institutions, before the ascent of the “Cancel Culture” & the “Wokeism Cult”, people were taught and some may remember this quote:
When in the Course of human events, it becomes necessary for one people to dissolve the political bands which have connected them with another, and to assume among the powers of the earth, the separate and equal station to which the Laws of Nature and of Nature’s God entitle them, a decent respect to the opinions of mankind requires that they should declare the causes which impel them to the separation.
These hallowed words begin one of the most enduring & influential documents in modern history, the American Declaration of Independence.
The lists of reasons & causes follow in a detailed explanation of why resistance was necessary and armed revolt was the end result. Yet with all of the atrocities being committed against those of early America, most Pastors and Christians today cannot honestly give you an answer as to whether the violent resistance against tyranny was just or justified.
I’ve asked Pastors & Ministers, laypeople and part time pew warmers, and most either cannot or will not commit an answer to the affirmative, it’s either a resounding no or I don’t know. Yet in times past liberty was often mixed with & often preached taught from the pulpit.
The Americans combine the notions of Christianity and of Liberty so intimately in their minds that it is impossible to make them conceive the one without the other. -Alexis de Tocqueville, 1835
“In every quiet little valley and sequestered nook in New England, the pastor had taught the doctrines of freedom, and preached the duty of resistance to oppression” (Headley, Joel Tyler, The Chaplains and Clergy of the Revolution, New York: Scribner, 1854, pg.17).
We have lived to see the time when British liberty is just ready to expire—when the constitution of government which has so long been the glory and strength of the English nation is deeply undermined and ready to tumble into ruins—when America is threatened with cruel oppression and the arm of power is stretched out against New England, especially this colony, to compel us to submit to the arbitrary acts of legislators who are not our representatives, and who will not bear the least part of the burdens which, without mercy, they are laying upon us (Thornton, John Wingate. The Pulpit of the American Revolution: or the Political Sermons of the Period of 1776, Boston: Gould and Lincoln, 1860, pg. 235).
Early did the first settlers of this country discover a due concern, a provident care for themselves and posterity, in making the best provisions in their power for safety and defense. No sooner was society formed and civil government established, but, even in their infant state, they made it their care to put the militia of the country upon a respectable footing (Kennedy, Dr. James, They Preached Liberty, FL: Coral Ridge Ministries, pg. 60).
There are hundreds if not thousands of quotes from the founders and others which can give a clear picture of where Christians stood and what their perception of a just struggle entailed. They understood the liberty we received from Christ was liberty from the oppression of sin, but they inculcated the ideas of liberty from tyranny with a fervor rarely seen in our day, understanding that tyrannical governments were also evil. Yes those early days still had the blight of slavery infecting America but those sins were paid for with over 600,000 people killed during the Civil War, all our nations collective sins can be and have been rectified either in wars or courts. Ours was a system designed where the majority wasn’t suppose to oppress the minority, but those checks & balances have been destroyed.
The liberty enshrined & codified in our founding documents allow freedom of religion to worship, also allowing ones choice not to be religious. Freedom of speech, of association, use of property, rights to seek a redress of grievances, the writ of habeas corpus, along with delegated authority & limited government, these and other rights are individual and enduring all generations. We need to recognize these rights as God given and should be defended through all legal means, and lastly through the use of organized force if necessary.
If we deny these rights & the rights the founders helped to establish & codify, then we do not deserve the liberty they secured for us.
So is resistance justified? I believe at times it is.
https://www.opendoorsusa.org/prayerapp Friends, we have just heard news of the May 20 arrest of 20 believers—including a pregnant woman—in Eritrea’s capital city of Asmara. The group also includes six couples. The reason for the arrests and surrounding circumstances are not known at this time. We do know that officials are keeping these Christians at a government school, closed down because of COVID-19 restrictions. Eritrea ranks #6 on Open Doors’ 2020 World Watch List. In the East African country, government security forces conduct house-to-house raids and to date have arrested hundreds of Christians. Extreme levels of government pressure, including state-sanctioned violence, often force Christians to flee the country. Please pray these believers would sense God’s presence in this uncertain and fearful time. Pray for safety and protection for this expecting mother and her unborn child. Pray that believers would be released from custody quickly. *Representative names and photos are sometimes used to protect identity.
https://www.opendoorsusa.org/prayerapp URGENT: Cyclone heads for India and Bangladesh Friends, please pray with us for our family in India and Bangladesh as super Cyclone Amphan’s 150 mph winds head for the countries’ border—the two countries are already battling escalating COVID-19 infections and severe food shortages the lockdowns have caused. Pray for protection, provision and strength—the need is dire.
https://www.opendoorsusa.org/prayerapp Injured Christian in Bangladesh refused help Friends, 29-year-old Ruhul Amin, a new Christian convert from Islam, was in an accident last month and broke his right hand and leg. When his neighbors heard about the accident, they started to curse him and his family saying, “This is the curse of Allah for your conversion and rejecting Islam. You still have time to repent and return [to Islam].” They are refusing to help the family and encouraging other villagers to do the same. He was released from the hospital after several days because there were no doctors available to treat him due to the coronavirus pandemic. A doctor told his family, “[Ruhul] will be OK, but he may need several operations.” Ruhul’s father, a pastor and Open Doors partner, was able to borrow some money to send Ruhul for surgery in another hospital. However, his father shares the cost for the surgery is more than the amount he could borrow: “It is very expensive and we cannot afford to pay.” Thanks to your prayers and support, Open Doors local partners have since been able to provide Ruhul with some financial support. Please join us in praying for God to provide the finances needed for Ruhul’s continued treatment. Pray for other believers to come alongside Ruhul and his family and support them in their needs. Pray for Ruhul’s full recovery, both physically and emotionally, and that he will be able to start work to support his family soon. Pray for the family to have a strong faith in Christ during this crisis. Pray the villagers’ mocking and defaming will not affect Ruhul and his family’s faith in Him and that the villagers would come to know Christ themselves. If God moves you to become more involved in supporting believers facing persecution, we encourage you to tap here to explore our Frontline Partner Program. *Representative names and photos are sometimes used to protect identity.
https://www.opendoorsusa.org/prayerapp Renounce Christ or be disowned in Vietnam Friends, recently in Vietnam, new believers Giang* and his family were kicked out of their village for sharing the gospel. Giang and his wife had told his parents, relatives and some villagers about Jesus during the coronavirus lockdown, but the message was not well-received. Last week, relatives and villagers went to Giang’s house and furiously demanded Giang and his family deny Christ. They told the couple that if they did not, they would be forced to leave the village and would be disowned by their families. Giang and his wife tried to explain God’s goodness and how their lives have changed because of Christ but the villagers became hysterical and shouted at the family to leave the village immediately! Giang, his wife and three children are now living in another village at a church member’s house. They were not allowed to take anything with them and their families have disowned them. The intention of their community is to force them to go hungry so that Giang and his family will have to return to their old village and accept whatever persecution they receive. Please join us in praying that God will continue to provide for Giang and his family. Pray God continues to use church members as a channel of blessing to Giang. Pray Giang’s parents, relatives and the villagers will encounter God in their lives and the seeds that have been planted will bear fruit in God’s perfect timing. Pray local partners of Open Doors will have wisdom as they assess the situation of Giang’s family. Please tap on the “Submit prayer” button to share your prayers and we will share them with these believers. *Representative names and photos are sometimes used to protect identity.
https://www.opendoorsusa.org/prayerapp Praise: Falsely accused pastor home in Kazakhstan Friends, recently we asked you to join us in praying for Pastor Jakim*, who was arrested for missionary activity during Kazakhstan’s coronavirus quarantine. Local Christians believe the whole incident was a setup, intended to provide an excuse to arrest Jakim. Thankfully, we just received word that Jakim had his court hearing and only received a small fine, which he was able to pay. He is now back at home with his family! Thank God for delivering Pastor Jakim! Pray Jakim will be bold in sharing the gospel and spreading the love of Christ during the coronavirus pandemic. Pray what was meant to harm Jakim would instead bring glory to Christ! *Representative names and photos are sometimes used to protect identity.
https://www.opendoorsusa.org/prayerapp Nigeria: Miraculous outcomes in violent attack Friends, Pastor Bayo Famonure and his family were violently attacked by militant Fulani herdsman on May 5 in Nigeria. Bayo is well-known for his missionary and evangelical work throughout Africa. We thank the Lord for His miraculous protection of this family as the outcome of this attack could have been much worse. Bayo was shot in the head and feet, though the shots did not penetrate his skull or damage any bones in his feet. His wife Naomi was shot in the back, yet the bullet did not reach her spinal cord. The doctor said if the bullet had penetrated just a fraction more, Naomi would have been paralyzed. Their sons, Adua and Victor, also sustained gunshot wounds that were not very serious. In a message Bayo sent, he shared “It’s a miracle … Just praise God.” Bayo is stable and recovering with his sons. Naomi underwent successful surgery to remove the bullet from her back. She is currently in a stable condition and recovering. Please join us in thanking God for his protection, as this attack could have ended very differently. Pray this story would serve as a powerful testimony of the Lord’s protection. Pray for a quick and full recover for Bayo, Naomi, Adua and Victor, both physically and emotionally. Pictured: Pastor Bayo Famonure
7. For if that first covenant had been faultless, then should no place have been sought for the second. 8. For finding fault with them, he saith, Behold, the days come, saith the Lord, when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and with the house of Judah: 9. Not according to the covenant that I made with their fathers in the day when I took them by the hand to lead them out of the land of Egypt; because they continued not in my covenant, and I regarded them not, saith the Lord. 10. For this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, saith the Lord; I will put my laws into their mind, and write them in their hearts: and I will be to them a God, and they shall be to me a people: 11. And they shall not teach every man his neighbour, and every man his brother, saying, Know the Lord: for all shall know me, from the least to the greatest. 12. For I will be merciful to their unrighteousness, and their sins and their iniquities will I remember no more. 13. In that he saith, A new covenant, he hath made the first old. Now that which decayeth and waxeth old is ready to vanish away.
9. Thou hast loved righteousness, and hated iniquity; therefore God, even thy God, hath anointed thee with the oil of gladness above thy fellows. 10. And, Thou, Lord, in the beginning hast laid the foundation of the earth; and the heavens are the works of thine hands: 11. They shall perish; but thou remainest; and they all shall wax old as doth a garment; 12. And as a vesture shalt thou fold them up, and they shall be changed: but thou art the same, and thy years shall not fail.
2. Let every one of us please his neighbour for his good to edification. 3. For even Christ pleased not himself; but, as it is written, The reproaches of them that reproached thee fell on me. 4. For whatsoever things were written aforetime were written for our learning, that we through patience and comfort of the scriptures might have hope. 5. Now the God of patience and consolation grant you to be likeminded one toward another according to Christ Jesus: 6. That ye may with one mind and one mouth glorify God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.
A Laymans Discourse 
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