Bible Teachings
Witness or Warrior I
Welcome Brothers and Sisters to an first part to something that is sometimes hard to talk about or even understand. Today we need to think about what it means to be both a witness and a warrior. Now your already wondering what that means. To explained in much deeper depth, we need to understand something that has to be cleared up. First is that when we commit ourselves to God by submission and humbling ourselves. We are allowing God to take charge in our lives, this along with putting faith in things we don't always understand is actions of faith. Yet there is more to just having faith in God, we are also told in more then one verse about our works. James simplifies it by Chapter 2:24 "You see that a person is Justified by works and not faith alone." This means we are to also place ourselves in situation where God wants us in that situation or circumstance. You know the terms actions speaks louder then words. That also implies that God wants us not only to have faith in him, but also be willing to serve and obey his commands. Faith is still good, but without works it might as well be dead.
Now with that clear up what does it imply for us as either Witness or Warrior. For Christ he sees things differently and he has different understand that we don't. This being he not only knows everything of our actions, thoughts, intentions and everything we do in that second. He also is the one who created the universe front the start. That implies everything we may understand is not the full knowledge or truth about mysteries we don't understand. Yet even when this happen from our first sin to how we live now, God is still trying to save many souls before this world faces the tribulations. One of these ways is how he wants us to bear witness to his works, yet most of the time especially with the media we are led to believe that we are to fight for what is right. That may sound good for those who live on this world, but if we are to follow Christ then we must understand that we're not suppose to fight against flesh(people) of this world. Instead we are to bear witness to what God does for others as those who watch us bear witness to his works through us.
Old Testament
In the Old Testament when the world had much sin, corruptions, and kingdoms that seek to conquer other kingdoms. No one can deny there was much violence in the world, while that is still the same issues of today, the unfortunate truth is we lives in times where everyone denies the shadows that hides our deeds, or bear witness to sinful deeds and care less about other people. What is different about then and now is how much God has shown himself to people, mostly to Israel as his chosen people. Those that became witness before Jesus had great faith in God and have done works in this faith. Examples of those who witness in faith are Abraham, Moses, Shadrach, Meshach, Abednego, and Daniel are well known people of the Old Testament that place their great faith in God. The first well known are people who place there faith in God, and are know for their great deeds in God's name. For Abraham he's known for his faith to the point of being friend of God. Moses is the one who help start the nation of Israel by placing his trust on God and had great faith to free them from Egypt. As for the next three Shadrach, Meshack, and Abednego are known to not only have great faith in God, But are protected from burning in the flames when standing for their faith against Nebuchadnessar when he demand them to worship him or be burned alive. Yet their faith prevailed as God showed him of his foolish ways. These figures along with others have shown great faith in God, that their works almost equal to their faith.
As for Daniel, his tale is one of great faith in God despite his situation and circumstance. What makes his life great is how it happen and how he never lost his faith in God. We are told from a young age he was taken toward Babylon not only as prisoners to their nations, but are to live like them and their culture. What they saw went against what God command them. In all his years Daniel had seen much, and bear witness to many things. Two are well known for his interpretation of dreams and how he lived through the lions den. To clarify we need to understand two things, first is the interpretation of dreams came with a price if he couldn't have told what Nebuchadnessar had dream about or if it is correct. For before Daniel is sent to him many others tried to explain what the dream meant without him explaining the dream. This made him angry and would have killed many people if Daniel didn't speak up. The second came in when he was sent into the Lion's den, this is after Babylon had fell to Persia and Mede empires, Cyrus is made ruler after it's fall. During this time Daniel is accused of crimes he didn't commit because others tried to kill Daniel out of Jealously. As such he was sent to the Lion's den where his faith is tested, and God saved him from the jaws of death. Here Faith is used in ways we can on everyday basis, but as I said before just having faith isn't enough as God says we need more then just faith in him.
For Noah Joseph, Joshua, and David, they are known for not only their faith, but mostly for their deeds. Noah is one that not only had faith, but also had works as he along with his family bear witness to god's power in the world and promise. If Noah hadn't built an ark for him and his family, no one would be alive to today. His faith place in his works is what allows Gods to do many great wonderous things in their lives. For Joseph, his tale of what was suppose to be sent as slavery is used to save his brothers and family from famine at the time. Joseph not only had to display his faith, but also show he was willing to follow God. This came with many temptations that could have easily killed him or have brought ruined if he made one wrong move. Yet by the end not only was he given power over most of Egypt, but also in charge of providing food through the 7 years of famine after he interpret Pharaoh's dream. Joshua is known for being next to lead Israel after their 40 years wandering the desert as punishment for bringing idols for false gods. Joshua had led the people to not only bring the walls of Jericho down by God's will, but also help reclaim most of Israel promise land to them. His faith through his deeds is example of faith by works. Which leads to the most famously well known is David, from a small boy to not only slay the giant Goliath, but also became ruler of Israel. Even now in the New Testament his deeds and actions are remembered from back then and to this day. Even in Revelations speaks of Key of David as his deeds will be remembered even when this world passes away.
There are examples of those who place their faith in God and done the works in his name. Even to these recent times from all over the world God is working through them and their faith through works is bear witness to them. But sometimes we get it wrong as those who have done much work have no faith, and those who have faith don't have works. These are important to God and for ourselves, if we aren't willing to follow in situations or circumstance for God, then what are we really doing in our lives. We will continue in part 2 of Witness or Warriors for this Bible Teachings.