Extremists - again

After my previous post, my brother told me that he had just been reading some speeches for his studies on Martin Luther King Jr and how they had been along similar lines to what I blogged and have been thinking about.

I thought I'd just add a few of his quotes in, firstly because they are along similar lines to my previous blog, and also because they are inspirational.

"Was not Jesus an extremist in love - 'Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, pray for them that despitefully use you.' Was not Amos an extremist for justice - 'Let justice roll down like waters and righteousness like an mighty stream.' Was not Paul an extremist for the gospel of Jesus Christ - 'I bear in my body the marks of the Lord Jesus.' Was not Martin Luther an extremist - 'Here I stand; I can do none other so help me God.' Was not John Bunyan an extremist - 'I will stay in jail to the end of my days before I make a butchery of my conscience.' Was not Abraham Lincoln an extremist - 'This nation cannot survive half slave and half free'. Was not Thomas Jefferson and extremist - 'We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal.' So the question is not whether we will be extremist but what kind of extremist will we be . Will be extremist for the preservation for hate or will be extremists for love? Will we be extremists for the preservation of injustice - or will we be extremists for the cause of justice?"

What a spokes person! There are so many other brilliant quotes here from Martin Luther King Jr, but I may break it up into smaller, bite size blogs.

I'm about to go into a technological blackout until late Monday. This weekend a few of us are involved in the International Weekend of Prayer and Fasting for Victims of Sexual Trafficking so one of the things I will be fasting is technology. You may also like to join us in prayer and fasting as a starting point to fight against this evil so please do this weekend.

"The Spirit of the Sovereign LORD is on me, because the LORD has anointed me to preach good news to the poor. He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim freedom for the captives and release from darkness for the prisoners"
Isaiah 61:1

'Extremists'

Here in Australia, we seem to have what I seem to call, the 'Tall Poppy Syndrome".

When someone either stands out or does something significant and makes some sort of impact, where other cultures would most likely congratulate them, possibly give them a medal or an acknowledgement, we here in Oz rip them down instead.

Good huh! I'm sure I'm to blame also.

Within the Salvation Army, I heard someone the other day give someone else the title as an 'extremist'. This person who received this title is someone who does amazing work and stands unwavering for what he believes and is making a huge impact on the world. He has also received an unbelievable amount of opposition from people he fights alongside, who you would think would be supporting him, since they are on the 'same side'.

If a kingdom is divided against itself, that kingdom cannot stand. (Mark 3:24)

How can the Salvation Army go forward if we do not support the people in the battle alongside us. If we turn on each other - the enemy has already one.

We mostly hear the term 'extremist' in this present days talking about the 'Muslim extremists' or some other people who are doing things that are shaking the planet in negative ways. I'll tell you now, soon a day is coming when you will be wanting more of these extremists within the Salvation Army! The extremists that we have now that we are tearing down will be the ones you will be counting on, they will be the people that you will be hiding behind when all the extremists go head to head - and I believe our 'extremist/s' that we have within the Salvation Army will make us proud in this situation even if it happened today.

We need to be in the business of producing and training 'extremists' for Jesus, people/soldiers/nutcases that really, truly have a relationship with the Saviour of every soul in the universe and will stand for what they believe no matter if they are standing in a pub/club getting pressured into drinking poison or kneeling with a gun to their head being told to deny the only truth that really matters.

We need a Salvation Army extremist leading the battle training up future extremists - the battle is stirring - I want to be ready - I want to be on the winning side (that's why I'm with Jesus!) - I want to be fighting next to a legion of extremists - I want a session of extremists that will not compromise.

Maybe we are entering into this era as we speak (or as you read)... will you stand up and join us?

We need you! Which side are you fighting on?

"Behold, I am coming soon! My reward is with me, and I will give to everyone according to what he has done. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the First and the Last, the Beginning and the End. "Blessed are those who wash their robes, that they may have the right to the tree of life and may go through the gates into the city.

Revelation 22:12-14

The General's health update

Just some other news also if you havn't heard - sounds like the General is going well. According to a good source - his son - sound's like he's basically back to normal and has resumed international travel.

Keep praying for the General of the Salvation Army as God has asked us to pray for our leaders.

“I urge, then, first of all, that requests, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for everyone -- for kings and all those in authority, that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness.” “This is good, and pleases God our Savior, who wants all men to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth.” “For there is one God and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus....”

1 Timothy 2:1-6

Spiritual Attacks

Has it just been me, or have the spiritual attacks been stepping up?

The past few weeks, God has really been looking after me with attacks coming from all angles, even from close friends being used by the enemy. Close friends effecting other friendships that mean a lot to me, attacks at work - big attacks, attacks within teams at church, all over the place.

God continually reminds me to repent daily, wash myself in His blood, and protect myself with the armor of Salvation - this is a daily thing, not just a thing when you get attacked or every few months when ever you feel you need to get yourself right with God - DAILY! It's a great feeling, first thing in the morning getting right with God - it always, OK, mostly gets me in a right place before God to face the day.

Today I was a bit down, mostly because I've been cut off from a friend presently, but I couldn't get into a right place spiritually. A few weeks ago, I actually forced myself to ask God for something that felt selfish, the gift of tongues - and received it! This is the best spiritual gift for strengthening yourself with God - I love it! Today this gift helped me and strenghten me - God is great!

Put on the full armor of God so that you can take your stand against the devil's schemes. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms

Ephesians 6:11-12