To Free the Oppressed

“Some wish to live within the sound of a chapel bell; I wish to run a rescue mission within a yard of Hell.”  ~C.T. Studd

Even though I have never served in the military, I have always been fascinated by the efforts and self sacrifice of the men and women who work in the United States Armed Forces.  As a child, I grew up as an “Army Brat” travelling from post to post with my family while my father served as a career soldier in the Army.  With my grandfather serving in the Army during World War II and with numerous friends and family members that have worn a uniform to serve and protect the best interests, rights, and citizens of our country, I have always felt a close kinship to these mighty men and women of valor.  So much in fact, that I frequently read and study whatever I can about their service, training, and operations. 

Recently, I have been busy researching the history of the  special operations force within the United States Army many of you may know as “The Green Berets”.  Known as “Warrior Diplomats” to some, the United States Army Special Forces are a special operations force tasked with six primary missions: unconventional warfare, foreign internal defense, special reconnaissance, direct action, hostage rescue, and counter-terrorism.   For the sake of this devotional, I would like to focus on these six primary aspects of their operations and how they relate to the Army of the Kingdom of Heaven.

“There is only one tactical principle which is not subject to change. It is to use the means at hand to inflict the maximum amount of wound, death, and destruction on the enemy in the minimum amount of time.” ~General George S. Patton, Jr.

Unconventional Warfare

The original mission of the Special Forces was ”unconventional warfare”, while other capabilities, such as direct action, were gradually added.  “Unconventional Warfare” as defined by the United States Military is a broad spectrum of military and paramilitary operations, normally of long duration, predominantly conducted through, with, or by indigenous or surrogate forces who are organized, trained, equipped, supported, and directed in varying degrees by an external source.   In short, it is the Green Berets job to penetrate and create insurgencies from within enemy territory in an effort to  support indigenous peoples in the warfare against their oppressors.  This may be through the use of military training, medical support or even humanitarian aid. ­  The motto of the United States Army Special Forces aptly describes their overall mission.  ”DE OPPRESSO LIBER” which roughly translates from Latin to read ”To Free the Oppressed”.

Foreign Internal defense

Foreign Internal defense, Also known as counter insurgency,  is an approach to combating actual or threatened insurgency in a foreign state or what is more commonly called the Host Nation. FID involves military deployment of counterinsurgency specialists who offer appropriate external support through training while the host nations military personnel fights the insurgents .

Special Reconnaissance

Special Reconnaissance is conducted by small units of highly trained military personnel, usually from Special Operations Forces who avoid combat with, and detection by, the enemy.   These personnel are trained for intelligence collection as well as directing air strikes and placing remotely monitored sensors deep within enemy territory.

Direct Action

Direct Action is one of the basic special operations missions.  it consists of short-duration strikes and other small-scale offensive actions conducted as a special operations in hostile, denied, or politically sensitive environments and which employ specialized military capabilities to seize, destroy, capture, exploit, recover, or damage designated targets.  In essence, direct action  uses a small ground team, possibly with air and naval support, that relies on surprise and skill, rather than mass, and has a hit-and-run approach.

Hostage Rescue

Essentially this is the extrication of persons held against their will within an antagonistic environment.  This is usually through the use of direct action.

Counter Terrorism

Counter terrorism is the practice, tactics, techniques, and strategies special operations forces use to prevent terrorist threats and acts, both real and imputed.

“I have but one candle of life to burn, and I would rather burn it out in a land filled with darkness than in a land flooded with light” ~John Keith Falconer

So what does all of this have to do with the Kingdom of Heaven?  Every kingdom has its Army and believe it or not, there is a Special Operations Force among Christian Believers.  And even though they war not against flesh and blood, they are  busily working day and night to free indigenous peoples from the oppression of sin and godlessness by arming them with the Word of God.  They are a radical group of preachers and teachers that live embedded in foreign countries for months and even years at a time.  They have learned the cultures and practices of their host country all while sharing the Love and Gospel of Jesus Christ.  Like their Special Operations counter parts in the US Army, many are bilingual and college educated, some to a post-graduate level.  This is because their job demands that they be able to perform well in and adapt to changing environments. They are also trained in the culture, language, customs, geography and traditions of the area that will ultimately serve as their Area of Operation.  Who are these Christian Diplomats that travel the world spreading the Gospel to the most remote reaches of the earth?  They are Christian  Missionaries and their objectives are very similar to that of the Green Berets. A missionary is a person that is sent by a church into an area to carry on evangelism or other activities, such as educational efforts or hospital work to aid and support the indigenous people of a host nation.  These selfless men and women of valor live by a universal code; “Make Disciples of Every Nation”.

“Never pity missionaries; envy them. They are where the real action is — where life and death, sin and grace, Heaven and Hell converge.” ~Robert C. Shannon

Unconventional Warfare

The origins of missionaries dates back to what many theologians call “The Great Commission” which is the instruction of the resurrected Jesus Christ to his disciples, that they spread his teachings to all the nations of the world.  References to this in the Bible can be found in the Book of Matthew. 

16 “Then the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain where Jesus had told them to go. 17 When they saw him, they worshiped him; but some doubted. 18 Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 19 Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”~Matthew 28:16-20 NIV

Christian Missionaries endure operations usually of long duration, predominantly conducted with indigenous people who are organized, trained, equipped, supported, and directed in varying degrees by an external source which is usually a home church.  This support comes in the form of Bible studies, medical aid,  well digging, and the building of homes, schools, and other structures that will serve the local community.  The goal of a missionary is to establish a strong foundation for the indigenous  population to continue to build upon and sustain for multiple generations. 

Foreign Internal defense

Members of the Kingdom of Heaven live in every part of the world.  In some areas, religious practices are still often tightly controlled by government authorities who persecute Christians for their beliefs.  This repression of religious freedom restricts legal religious practice to government-sanctioned organizations and registered religious groups and places of worship, and seeks to control the growth and scope of the activity of both registered and unregistered religious groups.  Christian Missionaries frequently organize ”unregistered” house church meetings to share the Gospel of Christ to all those who wish to attend.

Special Reconnaissance

There are Christian Missionaries who are active in the political arena who monitor the changing dynamics of the global stage.  This helps clear any “red tape” that may prevent a country from receiving much needed humanitarian aid.  Often uncredited, they are the men and women in business suites who make sure everything gets to where it needs to be in a timely manner.  They also work very closely with government agencies to help aid in the cessation of such acts as drug trafficking, illegal arms sells, and human trafficking.

Direct Action

Direct Action is one of the basic special operations Christian Missionaries undertake.  They respond all over the world to areas of tragedy and unrest bringing strong backs and willing hands ready to take on the tasks of prevention and recovery.  They have been to the shores of India during tsunamis, the mountains of Haiti following the devastation of the recent earthquakes, and to African villages in time of famine.  They responded to the Gulf Coast before and after Hurricane Katrina, they gave shelter to flood victims in the Mid-West, and delivered food and clothing to displaced homeowners following the forest fires on the West Coast.  Wherever you find, disaster, tragedy, or hard work to be done, you will find a Christian Missionary rendering aid.

Hostage Rescue

Today, human trafficking is primarily for prostituting women and children. It is described as “the largest slave trade in history” and is the fastest growing form of contemporary slavery. It is also the fastest growing criminal industry, set to outgrow drug trafficking.  There are hundreds, if not thousands of Christian Missionaries who work very diligently to shut down brothels and rescue men, women, and children from the modern day slave trade. 

Counter Terrorism

A seminary is an institution of higher education for educating students in theology, generally to prepare them for ordination as clergy or for other ministry.  Even though not all missionaries attend a formal seminary, they typically have an extensive background in teaching or preaching for the Christian Church.  This background allows them to share their faith with others who are coming to Christ or who need encouragement during a personal hardship.  This expression of love and faith acts as a weapon to counteract the forces of evil that appear to be innundating modern society.

“The Great Commission is not an option to be considered; it is a command to be obeyed” ~Hudson Taylor

To some, missions work is something that is done in a far away country in the jungles or deserts of the wilderness.  To a certain degree this is true.  However, missionary work is probably being done in your local community everyday.  Many churches have an “outreach” program where a team of individuals goes into the community to feed the hungry or clothe the needy.  These outreaches are forms of local missionary work and EVERYONE can participate.  You may not be able to travel to the Sudan to free women and children from the sex trade, but you can work at your local battered women’s shelter and minister to their unique needs.  You may have never travelled to Haiti to take part in a medical missions trip, but that doesn’t mean you cant organize a medical outreach for the underprivileged living in the urban areas of your city.  Traveling to India to teach children how to read and write may be out of your budget, but is that preventing you from starting an after school tutoring program at your local church?  You may not be politically savvy enough to lobby for the end of small arms sells in the jungles of South America, but maybe…. just maybe, you can start a “gas for guns” outreach with city officials in the concrete jungles of the local housing projects within your state.  Everything from passing out free water to people leaving a bar to women sharing their faith to the strippers, prostitutes, and streetwalkers in your local community is all a part of missionary work. 

“To know the will of God, we need an open Bible and an open map.” ~William Carey

 Missionaries are the Special Operations Force of the Christian Church.  Embedded in countries all over the world, they support the citizens of the Kingdom of Heaven locally and in the farthest reaches of the Earth.  Using the Bible as their foundation, Christian Missionaries provide aid from the oppression of sin, godlessness,  and poverty through the use of  church planting, disaster assistance, education, and outreach ministries.  We as Believers could completely redirect our world if we simply honored the creeds and precepts  held in the motto’s of both Christian Missionaries and the Green Berets; “Make Disciples of Every Nation” and “Free the Oppressed”.  Christian Missionary John Piper was once quoted as saying “Go, send, or disobey.”  I think he had the right idea.  I have chosen the Internet as my mission field.  Whats yours?  Be Blessed, My Friends.  Be an Overcomer!

~Bro. Jason Z. Hunt

“Enemy-occupied territory—–that is what this world is. Christianity is the story of how the rightful king has landed, you might say landed in disguise, and is calling us all to take part in a great campaign in sabotage.” ~CS Lewis

Memory Verse: “Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”~Matthew 28:19, 20 NIV

Memory Word:“Missionary”: a person that is sent by a church into an area to carry on evangelism or other activities, such as educational efforts or hospital work to aid and support the indigenous people of a host nation and/or community.

Inspiring Music:  “Bid Me to Come” by Dewayne Woods, “Send Me”, by Lecrae,  and “I Will” by Men of Standard

“Go, send, or disobey.” ~John Piper

Jesus Is In the Boat

 

“It is impossible for that man to despair who remembers that his Helper is omnipotent.” ~Jeremy Taylor

 Like many of you, I sometimes suffer an occasional trial or misfortune.  Just recently, I found myself having what I like to call a “Pity Party "over things that extended far beyond my span of control.  I had been wronged and forcibly made to endure the burdens of a person I had become embittered with.  Carrying their extra load would leave me with a heavy financial encumbrance that with my natural eye, seemed impossible to overcome. I wallowed in the gullies of self pity and discontent crying out to anyone who would listen.  Everything that I had become accustomed to, the lifestyle that I lived, the clothes I liked to wear, the house I lived in, the places I frequently traveled were all at risk of being taken away from me.  I pleaded my case to God and reminded Him (as if He could actually forget) about the works I had done for the Kingdom and cried out to Him about the unfairness and injustice of the situation. 

As I bellowed and groaned over my affliction, God quickened my spirit and reminded me of  a narrative from the Bible.   As a child, I can remember reading the story of Christ speaking to the storm and being both awed by his power and yet mystified by the doubt and unbelief of the disciples that set out into the waters with him.  An account of these events can be found in the book of Mark. 

³⁵ “That day when evening came, he said to his disciples, “Let us go over to the other side.” ³⁶Leaving the crowd behind, they took him along, just as he was, in the boat. There were also other boats with him. ³⁷ A furious squall came up, and the waves broke over the boat, so that it was nearly swamped. ³⁸ Jesus was in the stern, sleeping on a cushion. The disciples woke him and said to him, “Teacher, don’t you care if we drown?”

 ³⁹ He got up, rebuked the wind and said to the waves, “Quiet! Be still!” Then the wind died down and it was completely calm.

 ⁴⁰ He said to his disciples, “Why are you so afraid? Do you still have no faith?”

 ⁴¹ They were terrified and asked each other, “Who is this? Even the wind and the waves obey him!” ~Mark 4:35-41 NIV

“If I had Christ with me, I would never be afraid!”  I had told myself.  “Hadn’t the Disciples witnessed the miracles he performed?  Weren’t they there to hear his teachings?  Why should they be afraid of anything?”  …and yet they were, even though the entire time their savior had not left them.   Jesus was in the boat. 

Logically speaking, if the Son of God said he wanted his party to cross the sea of Galilee, surely they would have been able to do so, stormy weather or not.   But the disciples, crippled with fear, cried out and even accused Jesus of not caring about their horrible situation.  “Teacher, don’t you care if we drown?” 

This pitiful petition from Christ's Holy Elect sounded incredibly similar to my own.  I found myself eating the very same words I used to mock the disciples with.   At that very moment I heard God speak to my spirit    “Why are you so afraid? Do you still have no faith?”

It was a legitimate question.  God had sustained me through many dark days and trials.  But like the children of Israel, I had forgotten the works of my Heavenly Father.  I was reminded of a recent sermon I heard where the Pastor mentioned that the Israelites were freed from bondage in Egypt, but because of their doubt and unbelief were held captive by their own doing in the wilderness for forty years.  God parted the Red Sea, destroyed Pharaoh’s army, brought water out of rocks, and sent manna from Heaven, and yet they continued to question God.  I then again heard the Lord say,   “Why are you so afraid? Do you still have no faith?”

So what is faith?  Faith is defined as  a strong or unshakeable belief in something, especially without proof or evidence.  Their is an amazing excerpt on faith in the Bible Dictionary that I would like to share with you. 

 Faith is in general the persuasion of the mind that a certain statement is true (Phil. 1:27; 2 Thess. 2:13). Its primary idea is trust. A thing is true, and therefore worthy of trust. It admits of many degrees up to full assurance of faith, in accordance with the evidence on which it rests. Faith is the result of teaching (Rom. 10:14-17). Knowledge is an essential element in all faith, and is sometimes spoken of as an equivalent to faith (John 10:38; 1 John 2:3). Yet the two are distinguished in this respect, that faith includes in it assent, which is an act of the will in addition to the act of the understanding. Assent to the truth is of the essence of faith, and the ultimate ground on which our assent to any revealed truth rests is the veracity of God.

“His Eye is on the sparrow and I know he watches me.” ~Civilla D. Martin

Have you ever heard the hymn “His Eye Is On the Sparrow”?  It was written by lyricist Civilla D. Martin in 1905 and is an excellent representation of what a Christian’s faith is supposed to be.  

Why should I feel discouraged, why should the shadows come, Why should my heart be lonely, and long for heav’n and home, When Jesus is my portion? My constant Friend is He: His eye is on the sparrow, and I know He watches me; His eye is on the sparrow, and I know He watches me. Refrain: I sing because I’m happy, I sing because I’m free, For His eye is on the sparrow, and I know He watches me. “Let not your heart be troubled,” His tender word I hear, And resting on His goodness, I lose my doubts and fears; Though by the path He leadeth, but one step I may see; His eye is on the sparrow, and I know He watches me; His eye is on the sparrow, and I know He watches me. Whenever I am tempted, whenever clouds arise, When songs give place to sighing, when hope within me dies, I draw the closer to Him, from care He sets me free; His eye is on the sparrow, and I know He watches me; His eye is on the sparrow, and I know He watches me.

  Martin was inspired to write the song by the words of Jesus in the Book of Mathew. 

29 “Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? Yet not one of them will fall to the ground outside your Father’s care. 30 And even the very hairs of your head are all numbered. 31 So don’t be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows.” ~Matthew 10:29-31 NIV

Some texts state that Martin had a second source of inspiration for her classic Gospel hymn.

“Early in the spring of 1905, my husband and I were sojourning in Elmira, New York. We contracted a deep friendship for a couple by the name of Mr. and Mrs. Doolittle—true saints of God. Mrs. Doolittle had been bedridden for nigh twenty years. Her husband was an incurable cripple who had to propel himself to and from his business in a wheel chair. Despite their afflictions, they lived happy Christian lives, bringing inspiration and comfort to all who knew them. One day while we were visiting with the Doolittle’s, my husband commented on their bright hopefulness and asked them for the secret of it. Mrs. Doolittle’s reply was simple: “His eye is on the sparrow, and I know He watches me.” The beauty of this simple expression of boundless faith gripped the hearts and fired the imagination of Dr. Martin and me. The hymn “His Eye Is on the Sparrow” was the outcome of that experience.”

—Civilla Martin

“A ship in a harbour is safe, but that is not what ships are built for.”~ William Shedd

Reading Civilla Martin’s account of the origins of her song brings to mind another passage of scripture from the Bible that speaks about fear and worry. 

²⁵ “Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothes?²⁶ Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? ²⁷ Can any one of you by worrying add a single hour to your life?    ²⁸ “And why do you worry about clothes? See how the flowers of the field grow. They do not labor or spin. ²⁹ Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. ³⁰ If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you—you of little faith? ³¹ So do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ ³² For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. ³³ But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.³⁴ Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.” ~Matthew 6:28-34 NIV

There are days where you will be lacking courage because of the high waves of uncertainty that appear to be swamping your boat.  Financial rain and wind may be beating against you as you struggle to stay afloat in the turbulent seas of debt.  You may only see loneliness  and pain on the horizon in front of you.  Storm clouds of rejection may be circling overhead.  You may even think your inevitable ruin is near.  But fear not, My Friends.  Let the winds blow, let the rains fall.  You are a child of God and have been called to go to the other side with Him.  Yes, the storms may be rough.  Yes, you may be tested.  But have faith, beloved.  Jesus is in the boat and that’s all that really matters.  Be Blessed, My Friends.  Be an Overcomer!

~Bro. Jason Z. Hunt

Memory Verse:  “Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? Yet not one of them will fall to the ground outside your Father’s care. And even the very hairs of your head are all numbered. So don’t be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows.” ~Matthew 10:29-31 NIV

Memory Word:“Faith”: a strong or unshakable belief in something, especially without proof or evidence.

Inspiring Music:  “His Eye is on the Sparrow” by Shirley Caesar

An Uncommon Love

“See what great love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are! The reason the world does not know us is that it did not know him.”  ~1 John 3:1 NIV

 The Parable of the Good Samaritan

²⁵ On one occasion an expert in the law stood up to test Jesus. “Teacher,” he asked, “what must I do to inherit eternal life?”

   ²⁶ “What is written in the Law?” he replied. “How do you read it?”

 ²⁷ He answered, “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind’; and, ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ ”

   ²⁸ “You have answered correctly,” Jesus replied. “Do this and you will live.”

 ²⁹ But he wanted to justify himself, so he asked Jesus, “And who is my neighbor?”

 ³⁰ In reply Jesus said: “A man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho, when he was attacked by robbers. They stripped him of his clothes, beat him and went away, leaving him half dead. ³¹ A priest happened to be going down the same road, and when he saw the man, he passed by on the other side. ³²So too, a Levite, when he came to the place and saw him, passed by on the other side.³³ But a Samaritan, as he traveled, came where the man was; and when he saw him, he took pity on him. ³⁴ He went to him and bandaged his wounds, pouring on oil and wine. Then he put the man on his own donkey, brought him to an inn and took care of him. ³⁵The next day he took out two denarii and gave them to the innkeeper. ‘Look after him,’ he said, ‘and when I return, I will reimburse you for any extra expense you may have.’

   ³⁶ “Which of these three do you think was a neighbor to the man who fell into the hands of robbers?”

 ³⁷ The expert in the law replied, “The one who had mercy on him.”

   Jesus told him, “Go and do likewise.”  ~Luke 10:25-37 NIV

“Where Love is, God is.”  ~Henry Drummond  

                                                                                                         

The word “love” appears in the King James version of the Bible approximately 314 times.  If one were to study the origins of the word, you would find that the ancient Greeks actually had four different words they used for love, each having its own distinct meaning.  These words were agápe, éros, phileo, and storgē .  Popular Christian author C.S. Lewis wrote a book called “The Four Loves” which explains each one in great detail.    Even though the translation of the word varies with its respective usage, “agape” (pronounced ah-gah-pey) is frequently found in the Bible and  is generally reserved for speaking of a sacrificial love or what is commonly referred to today as an unconditional love.  It is noticeably dissimilar from the romantic type of love (eros), a love shared amongst  friends (phileo),  and the love for offspring through affection and familiarity (storge).  The type of love Jesus was speaking of transcends the natural barriers of circumstance, culture, status, and wealth.  It is a Godly love that persistently loves all, not for the sake of reciprocity, but simply for the sake of loving and for the cause of Christ.

“We must love one another or die.” ~W.H. Auden

To fully appreciate this story, we have to understand who the players are in Christ’s tale.  The Traveller we can presume is of Jewish origin simply because of the audience Jesus was speaking to and because of his comparison to the Samaritan.  This is critically important because the Samaritans and Jews did not get along.  In fact, they hatedeach other.  The Priest and the Levite, on the other hand, were religious leaders who were probably returning to Jericho after completing their temple duties in Jerusalem.  In Jesus’ culture, contact with a dead body was understood to defile a person.  Priests were particularly enjoined to avoid uncleanness.  The priest and Levite may therefore have assumed that the fallen traveler was dead and avoided him to keep themselves ritually clean.  They were also familiar with this particualr stretch of road that was notorious for its danger from bandits and difficult travel.  In fact, it was known as the “Way of Blood” by the locals.  They may have been afraid to risk aiding the fallen traveller in fear that it was a trap.  Even though we can speculate about the reasons behind their inattention, we know one thing for sure.  They were not acting in love.  Religiousness or fear, maybe.   But not in love.

“Love means loving the unlovable—-or it is no virtue at all.” ~G.K. Chesterton

So, how do we know when we are acting in love?  lets take a look at the Bible for a few clues, shall we? 

 ¹⁶ “This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down his life for us. And we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers and sisters. ¹⁷ If anyone has material possessions and sees a brother or sister in need but has no pity on them, how can the love of God be in that person? ¹⁸ Dear children, let us not love with words or speech but with actions and in truth.” ~1 John 3:16-18 NIV

Jesus Christ was sent to the Cross to die for mans sins.  Not because we were worthy of this sacrifice.  But, simply because he loved us so much, he refused to allow us fall in to the hands of Satan.  This is the same type of unconditional love we should be showing the world. 

⁷ “Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God. ⁸ Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love. ⁹ This is how God showed his love among us: He sent his one and only Son into the world that we might live through him. ¹⁰ This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins. ¹¹ Dear friends, since God so loved us, we also ought to love one another. ¹² No one has ever seen God; but if we love one another, God lives in us and his love is made complete in us.” ~1 John 4:7-12 NIV

 

 

” If I give all I possess to the poor and give over my body to hardship that I may boast, but do not have love, I gain nothing.” ~1 Corinthians 13:3 NIV

 If you ever find yourself in a position where you cannot determine what to do, purpose in your heart to err on the side of love.  Why?  Because Jesus is Love!  So how do you know if you are acting in love?  I’m glad you asked!  Lets take a look at a book in the Bible that has been made famous for what it has to say about love. 

⁴ “Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. ⁵ It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. ⁶ Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. ⁷ It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.  ⁸ Love never fails….” ~1 Corinthians 13:4-8 NIV

This scripture says it all.  Are you being patient?  Are you being kind?  If not, you are not acting in love.  Are you a man or woman who is boastful?  Do you have an ungodly or prideful spirit?  If so, you are not acting in love.  Do your words and deeds dishonor others?  Are you self seeking, easily angered by the things around you, or busy keeping tabs on the number of wrongs that have been done to you?  If so, you are not acting in love. 

Did you know that the word love can be used as a noun and a verb?  How can this be?  Because it is a person, place, or thing that is made up of actions.   It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, alwaysperseveres.  The only thing the Bible say love cant do is fail.  As Christian Believers we should be showing the world the love of Christ.  This is done by living a Christ like lifestyle ourselves.  Christs very nature was love.  His teachings, his life, his death,burial, and ressurection were all motivated by the same thing which is Love.  If we are followers of Christ and are to be  victorious in life though his sacrifice, then we should be motivated by the same thing he was. Why?  Because love never fails.  Be Blessed, My Friends.  Be an Overcomer. 

~Bro. Jason Z. Hunt

Memory Verse:  “Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love.”  1 John 4:8

Memory Word:  “Agape”:  the love of Christians for other persons, corresponding to the love of God for humankind.

Inspiring Music:  “Love” by Kirk Franklin

Hands Down Man Down

 “It’s lack of faith that makes people afraid of meeting challenges, and I believed in myself.”
~Muhammad Ali

This past summer, I finally built up the nerve to try my hand at the sport of boxing.  It was a very exciting time where I was pushed far beyond my preconceived physical limits and learned one of the earliest forms of self defense.  The strength training was intense, the endurance drills were insane, but what I found to be most challenging was sparring.  Why? BECAUSE IT HURTS.  Believe it or not, people actually hit you when you’re in the ring and those padded red gloves and head gear you see on TV only give you a limited amount of protection.  But, in order to be among the best, you have to train with the best.  This meant occasionally sparring with the most experienced fighters in our gym.  Coach Hills would always tell us that we would never improve unless we competed against someone who would push us beyond our current skill level.  We trained hard and made our mistakes in the gym so we wouldn’t make mistakes in the ring against a real opponent. Sugar Ray Leonard once said “Boxing is the ultimate challenge.  There’s nothing that can compare to testing yourself the way you do every time you step in the ring” and he’s right.  I haven’t had that much fun in a really long time.  The Bible also makes mention of how challenges help test our faith. 

² “Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, ³ because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. ⁴ Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.” ~James 1:2-4 NIV 

¹² “Blessed is the one who perseveres under trial because, having stood the test, that person will receive the crown of life that the Lord has promised to those who love him.” ~James 1:12 NIV

“And I love kick boxing. It’s a lot of fun. It gives you a lot of confidence when you can kick somebody in the head.“~Alicia Keys

 I must admit, though.  There are few things in this world that will destroy a mans confidence faster than being hit in the face by an opponent.  I can remember sparring with the coaches son.  He was all of thirteen years old, but was equal to my height with twice the muscle.  He had also been in more fights professionally than I had in my entire life.  The first time I saw him fight, I thought to myself, “This isn’t a child.  It’s a small man.”  Please don’t misunderstand me.  He was a gentleman in word and in deed.  However, he was one of the toughest fighters I have ever seen.  I can remember him critiquing my stance one day while we were sparring. 

“You should bring your hands up and put your head down, Mr. Jason.  You’re exposing your chin.”

“What do you mean?  It looks OK to me.”

 WHAM!  He gave me a quick jab to the face and I felt my brain lurch from my forehead and slam into the back of my skull.  My ears were ringing and just for a split second, my sparring partner became invisible.  “Hands down, man down.”  I heard his dad shout from the other side of the gym.

“I must be freaking crazy.”  I mumbled through my mouth piece.

“Whats that, Mr. Jason?”   

“Hmnn?”  I responded flatly.  “I didn’t say anything.  Lets try this again.”  I was too embarrassed to let this kid know he almost knocked me out and I had too much pride to quit.  He was a formidable opponent and being in the ring with him taught me more than just to keep my hands up and my head down.   As much as it hurt, being able to take a punch taught me how to give one.  Sometimes being put into a position where you have to defend yourself works to strengthen your confidence.  To further elaborate on my earlier statement, there are few things in this world that can equallydestroy a mans confidence and build it faster than being punched in the face by an opponent.  Yeah, having your head bashed in hurts.  But it is also the vehicle that teaches you how to strike back.

“Boxing is about being hit rather more than it is about hitting, just as it is about feeling pain, if not devastating psychological paralysis, more than it is about winning.” ~Joyce Carol Oates

The same thing can be said for defending your Christian beliefs.  I’m not sure if you have ever been in a religious debate with someone, but if not careful, speaking on the subject can divide the dearest of friends.  But, like boxing, defending your religious views has a way of training you.  Not to be a better fighter, but to be a more informed Christian.  Apologetics is the branch of theology concerned with the defense or proof of Christianity.  Its great to believe in something, but do you really understand what you believe or is it just out of routine and religiousness.  For example, if you are sharing  your faith with a non-believer, wouldn’t it be great to be able to tell them why Jesus died on the cross for our sins and not just that he did?  Wouldn’t it be great if you could plainly explain the meaning behind the sacrificial system concerning the shedding of blood for the remission of sin?   Apologetics serves to defend the faith against objections and misrepresentation, and to expose perceived error within other religions and world views. 

“Smart fighters win fights.” ~Coach Manjarreau Hills

I know what you might be thinking.  So what exactly does this have to do with boxing?  Actor Jimmy Smits was once quoted as saying this about the sport.   ”It’s less about the physical training, in the end, than it is about the mental preparation: boxing is a chess game. You have to be skilled enough and have trained hard enough to know how many different ways you can counterattack in any situation, at any moment.”   The same can be said for apologetics.  In order to defend your faith, you have to know how to counterattack.  The only way to know how to counterattack in apologetics is to know your Bible. 

Sometimes discussing your faith can feal like a boxing match.  Your “opponent” may try to jab at you with misconceptions of varying translations of the Bible.  They may uppercut you with Darwinism and logic.  They may even attack you with recent hipocrocies in the Christian Church.  Essentially, you can only do one of two things.  One, let these advances injure your confidence in speaking out about your faith.  Or two, let their commentary strengthen your confidence and better prepare you for the next debate.

“Hands down, man down.”  ~Coach Manjarreau Hills

I have decided to make the personal decision to mentally train myself for every type of attack on my faith I might face.  To do this I have taken a more literal stance to Coach Hills’ “Hands down, man down” approach to boxing.  My plan is to constantly have my hands up studying the Word of God and to have my head down in prayer to Him. This is what the Book of 1st Corinthians has to say about being self disciplined.

 ²⁴ Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one gets the prize? Run in such a way as to get the prize. ²⁵ Everyone who competes in the games goes into strict training. They do it to get a crown that will not last, but we do it to get a crown that will last forever. ²⁶ Therefore I do not run like someone running aimlessly; I do not fight like a boxer beating the air. ²⁷ No, I strike a blow to my body and make it my slave so that after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified for the prize. ~1 Corinthians 9:24-27 NIV

Just in case you still aren’t convinced,  lets take a look at the Book of Joshua.

⁷ “Be strong and very courageous. Be careful to obey all the law my servant Moses gave you; do not turn from it to the right or to the left, that you may be successful wherever you go. ⁸ Keep this Book of the Law always on your lips; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous and successful. ⁹ Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the LORD your God will be with you wherever you go.” ~Joshua 1:7-9 NIV

“It’s the repetition of affirmations that leads to belief. And once that belief becomes a deep conviction, things begin to happen.”
~Muhammad Ali

Please don’t misunderstand me.  No one will be able to remember every scripture all of the time.  But being that what it may, I am still dedicating myself to mentally do battle with the falsehoods and misconceptions of those who have a different belief system than what I do.  Being confronted with someone who is actively trying to poke holes in your faith can be incredibly uncomfortable and even painful at times.  However, being well prepared for such an event will not only bring glory to the Kingdom of Heaven, but will also serve as a powerful tool to strengthen your belief in the Word of God.  So as Christian Believers, lets meditate on the Word day and night and remember Coach Hills Advice;  “Hands down, man down”.  Be Blessed, My Friends.  Be an Overcomer. 

~Bro. Jason Z. Hunt

 

Do you not know that in a race all the runners

run, but only one gets the prize? Run in such a way as to get the prize. Everyone who competes in the games goes into strict training. They do it to get a crown that will not last, but we do it to get a crown that will last forever. Therefore I do not run like someone running aimlessly; I do not fight like a boxer beating the air. No, I strike a blow to my body and make it my slave so that after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified for the prize. ~1 Corinthians 9:24-27

Memory Verse:  “Keep this Book of the Law always on your lips; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous and successful.” ~Joshua 1:8 NIV

Memory Word:  “Apologetics”:  the branch of theology concerned with the defense or proof of Christianity.

Inspiring Music:  “No Battle, No Blessing”  by Shari Addison