Let This Cup Pass - Which Cup?

Let This Cup Pass - Which Cup?

Good Friday

John 1:29 ... John seeth Jesus ... and saith, Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world.

1 Peter 2: 21 For even hereunto were ye called: because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that ye should follow his steps:
22 Who did no sin, neither was guile found in his mouth:
23 Who, when he was reviled, reviled not again; when he suffered, he threatened not; but committed himself to him that judgeth righteously:
24 Who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes ye were healed.

That such a one who was one with the Father - and was God with the Father - pure, Holy and completely good, would take on human flesh and blood, lower himself and be placed in a womb is already beyond comprehension. That he would submit to human parents and be obedient to people who were His own creation, letting them have authority in His life is amazing. That He would love us enough to confine Himself to a human body, while still being God, in order to bring about the work of salvation is enough to leave us in awe.
But then on top of all of this, He who was pure and guiltless, who had never committed sin or felt the guilt and shame of it, allowed all the sins that had ever been, or ever would be committed, to be placed in His innocent body!
Can you imagine the shock it would have been for Him to take on Himself even one sin, and to feel what it was like to be contaminated by it, feel the uncleanness of it, and have that thing recorded in His pure and holy mind?
But to have all the sins of the entire human race, past, present and future, loaded into His innocent body must have been an extreme shock to His entire being, His mind, His Spirit, and His body! Surely there are no words that can describe the horror of that moment!
And yet it did happen. It had to happen if He were to destroy the works of Satan and destroy the body of sin. Always keep in mind that man had sinned in his body and death had come to our bodies, thus bringing death to our spirit as well. Remember how Eve sewed leaves together to cover her body after she sinned. Before that, she and her husband were naked and not ashamed, as it should be, but after they sinned in their bodies, they were ashamed.
But when - at what point - were the sins of the world put in Jesus' body? The Bible does not say specifically. But I believe that we may have a clue when we read what is recorded.
I believe that it is highly likely that this took place in the Garden of Gethsemane. Let me show you why. We are told this in Isaiah, chapter 53

Isaiah 53:4 Surely he hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows: yet we did esteem him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted.
5 But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed.

The word 'bruised' here, in the Hebrew is the word - Daka, ('daw-kaw') - a primitive root ... to crumble; transitively, to bruise (literally or figuratively):--beat to pieces, break (in pieces), bruise, contrite, crush, destroy, humble, oppress, smite.
From this, we see that the beating Jesus received after leaving the Garden of Gethsemane, was for our iniquities. He was chastised for the sins we committed in order to bring us peace. This being the case, then we understand that it is likely that at the time the Roman soldiers were beating Him, our sins would have been in His body, for that is what He was being beaten for.
It stands to reason then, that the sins of the world would have been in His body when He left the Garden of Gethsemane and was taken to Pilot for He went from Pilot to the soldiers to be beaten. It also stands to reason that if He did not enter the Garden of Gethsemane with the sins of the world in His body, that the transfer of our sins to His body would have taken place there in the Garden.
When we look at some of the things that we are told took place there, some things may become clear, that perhaps were not seen or understood before.
Let us go to the book of Luke and read of what took place.

Luke 22:37-44 For I say unto you, that this that is written must yet be accomplished in me, And he was reckoned among the transgressors: for the things concerning me have an end.

These words were spoken before Jesus entered the Garden of Gethsemane and they had not yet taken place.

Reckoned in the Hebrew is - logizomai (log-id'-zom-ahee) - ... estimate (literally or figuratively):--conclude, (ac-)count (of), + despise, esteem, impute, lay, number, reason, reckon, suppose, think (on).

Isaiah 53:12 12 ... and he was numbered with the transgressors; and he bare the sin of many ….

Numbered - (Hebrew) – manah, (maw-naw') - a primitive root; properly, to weigh out; by implication, to allot or constitute officially; also to enumerate or enroll:--appoint, count, number, prepare, set, tell.

This verse lets us know that Jesus knew what was about to happen and was determined to see it accomplished. He said that it “... must yet be accomplished in me...” Noticed He did not just say that it must be accomplished, but rather that it had to be accomplished 'in' Him.
This word 'in' – in the Hebrew is the word – en, (en) - a primary preposition denoting (fixed) position (in place, time or state) ....
Where is the place that this must be accomplished? Jesus said, “in me”!
And what had to be accomplished? He had to be reckoned with the transgressors.
Although the Jews looked to find some way of accusing Jesus of breaking the law, they could find nothing. There were false accusations, but nothing true or worthy of death, until He confessed to being Christ, the Son of the Blessed.
This was not against the civil law. Yet, when He was crucified, He was treated officially as one who had transgressed the law. And in ages to come, He could still be looked on as a transgressor for the mere fact that he was crucified as though He were one. (Mark 14:53-64)
Though not a civil crime, blasphemy was against the Law of Moses that was in force at the time of Christ and it was punishable by death. (Leviticus 24:16) Also, when He took the sins of the world on Himself, God could then count Him as a sinner or lawbreaker. Not that He had committed sin, but that He had become sin and taken our sin on Himself. And as such, He had to pay the price of a lawbreaker.
2 Corinthians 5:21 For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.
He had not yet been reckoned with the transgressors when He entered the Garden of Gethsemane.
Now let us go back to Luke 22 and continue.

38 And they said, Lord, behold, here are two swords. And he said unto them, It is enough.
39 And he came out, and went, as he was wont, to the mount of Olives; and his disciples also followed him.
40 And when he was at the place, he said unto them, Pray that ye enter not into temptation.
41 And he was withdrawn from them about a stone's cast, and kneeled down, and prayed,
42 Saying, Father, if thou be willing, remove this cup from me: nevertheless not my will, but thine, be done.
43 And there appeared an angel unto him from heaven, strengthening him.
44 And being in an agony he prayed more earnestly: and his sweat was as it were great drops of blood falling down to the ground.

WHAT CUP WAS HE ASKING HIS FATHER TO REMOVE? WAS HE SPEAKING OF THE CROSS?

I suggest that He was not asking God to keep Him from going to the cross, as is so often assumed.
To die on the cross, was the purpose for which He had come into the world. Jesus said that this had to be accomplished in Him. He knew and understood this and fully intended to see it carried to completion.
He had always known His purpose.

1 John 3:8 ... For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that he might destroy the works of the devil.

Mark 8:31 And he began to teach them, that the Son of man must suffer many things, and be rejected of the elders, and of the chief priests, and scribes, and be killed, and after three days rise again.

He had already told His disciples of His upcoming death. And He had already known that His body had been prepared for the purpose of taking on the sin of the world and being sacrificed.

Hebrews 10:5 Wherefore when he cometh into the world, he saith, Sacrifice and offering thou wouldest not, but a body hast thou prepared me:

Jesus wanted to do the work He had come to earth to do. Still, as a man, the thought of the pain and suffering He was about to face could have caused great stress. Yet, I highly doubt that He would have asked His Father to keep Him from going to the cross. He understood that without sacrificing Himself there would be no redemption for mankind; all would die.
I do not believe for one moment, that Jesus would have asked the Father to not make Him go through with what He came to do for those He loved so dearly. This He was determined to do. He was no coward, no weakling. He had lived with the knowledge of His purpose and would not be inclined to back out now.
But if that is not what he was referring to, what might it have been?
Let me suggest that the cup he was referring to, was the one he was having to drink in that very moment, the very moment in which He was praying. “if thou be willing, remove this cup from me”
And what was that?
I believe that in that moment the sins of the world were transferred to His body and that the shock and weight of it was almost too much for Him to physically bear. Had he died under the weight of it, there in the Garden, He would not have made it to the cross. He was determined to get there, and I believe His cry concerning His cup, was a cry for help.
We see that as soon as He prayed for the cup to be removed - if possible, - that an angel came and strengthened him. I believe what he was suffering in that moment was so excruciating and so overwhelming to his body, mind and spirit that it might have taken his life had God not sent the angel to strengthen him
I doubt He was even asking for the removal of the sin He was now having to bear, for He knew He had to carry it to the cross, bear it there, and let the body of sin die, so that the world could be forgiven. But, I think it to be more likely that He was asking to be relieved of what that awful burden was doing to His mind, spirit, and body.

44 And being in an agony he prayed more earnestly: and his sweat was as it were great drops of blood falling down to the ground.

Take a look, for a moment, and what is said of this condition of sweating blood.

https://www.webmd.com/a-to-z-g…/hematidrosis-hematohidrosis… - Hematidrosis, or hematohidrosis, is a very rare medical condition that causes you to ooze or sweat blood from your skin when you're not cut or injured.
Only a few handfuls of hematidrosis cases were confirmed in medical studies in the 20th century.
People who have hematidrosis may sweat blood from their skin. It usually happens on or around the face, but the skin might be lining the inside of your body, too, like in your nose, mouth, or stomach. The skin around the bloody area may swell temporarily.
Hematidrosis can look like blood, bloody sweat, or sweat with droplets of blood in it.
The bleeding usually stops on its own, and it's not serious, although it can make you dehydrated. And, of course, it can be disturbing.
What Happens
Doctors don't know exactly what triggers hematidrosis, in part because it's so rare. They think it could be related to your body's "fight or flight" response.
Tiny blood vessels in the skin break open. The blood inside them may get squeezed out through sweat glands, or there might be unusual little pockets within the structure of your skin. These could collect the blood and let it leak into follicles (where the hair grows) or on to the skin's surface.
Sometimes it seems to be caused by extreme distress or fear, such as facing death, torture, or severe ongoing abuse. It's probably where the term "sweating blood," meaning a great effort, comes from.

Notice a 'fight or flight' response is mentioned in the description of this condition above.

Dictionary.com defines 'fight or flight' this way - the response of the sympathetic nervous system to a stressful event, preparing the body to fight or flee, associated with the adrenal secretion of epinephrine and characterized by increased heart rate, increased blood flow to the brain and muscles, raised sugar levels, sweaty palms and soles, dilated pupils, and erect hairs.
When the sins of the world were put into the body of Jesus, it was an intrusion that went against everything that He was. It was repulsive to the Holy Savior. We can see how that His body could have went into the 'fight or flight' response. It would have been natural for Jesus to instantly want to cast off the unclean thing attacking His body and mind. And yet He could not do so and still save the world!
I truly believe that our Lord, in His human state, had taken on more than He, humanly, was able to bear without help. His cry to His Father, then, may have been concerning the suffering He was going through - that is - the pressure and assault on His body and Spirit. In other words, He may have been asking God to take away the weakness and physical affect of what He was now having to bear. To save Him from the awful, overpowering feeling of shame, guilt, and horror over all of the repulsive, wickedness and uncleanness assaulting Him.
Remember too, that these sins would have separated Him from the Father!
Isaiah 59:2 But your iniquities have separated between you and your God, and your sins have hid his face from you ….
It is no wonder that while on the cross He cried out - “...My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?” (Matthew 27:46)
He had to go through the assault of sin while separated from the Father for the first time. This alone would have been devastating. This in itself could have caused tremendous grief, sense of loss and agony. All of this at one time surely must have caused Him to be physically weakened and be so overwhelmed that it was making it hard for Him to even think straight or retain consciousness. Surely His heart would have been breaking over the sins of the world that were imposed on Him and the separation from His Father! It would make sense for Him to ask His Father to relieve Him so He could make it to the cross and not faint or die first.
As we have seen, this condition of bloody sweat is a reaction of the body to extreme stress and He certainly would have been under extreme stress. Think of the guilt you feel when you commit one sin, how it weighs on your mind, and can even make it hard for you to sleep or have peace But Jesus had the sin of every rapist, child molester, murderer etc. put in His body all at once! And He had to bear it without the Father or Holy Spirit dwelling in Him.
We see that the condition causing bloody sweat can cause dehydration. According to -
https://www.mayoclinic.org/…/d…/symptoms-causes/syc-20354086 – (quote) -
Low blood volume shock (hypovolemic shock). This is one of the most serious, and sometimes life-threatening, complications of dehydration. It occurs when low blood volume causes a drop in blood pressure and a drop in the amount of oxygen in your body.
Now if Jesus actually sweat blood, then there may have been enough of a drop in His blood pressure and oxygen level, to have caused Him to faint or to become ill if He did not receive help.
In such a condition, it would make sense for Him to ask the Father to relieve Him of this physical suffering of blood and oxygen loss, perhaps even headache and nausea, agony of the sin and darkness filling Him, bringing with it overwhelming sorrow, guilt and shame, plus the pain of separation from the Father and Holy Spirit!
“Let this cup pass.” In other words, rather than asking God not to make Him have to go to the cross, I believe He was asking God to intervene in His physical, mental, and emotional condition so that He could, in fact, make it to the cross.
And we do see that when He asked God to let that cup pass, the angel came to His aide and strengthened Him. This was the answer to His prayer. He was strengthened.
Can you imagine after having suffered this onslaught of sin and the tremendous physical reaction to the excessive stress of wanting to resist the horrid sin and yet knowing you must bear it, until the pressure was so great you sweat blood and perhaps become weak and dehydrated, to have to go on to trial before Pilot and then be tortured? Surely Jesus did need supernatural intervention to be able to bear it without total collapse!
He was not rescued from feeling the pain and evidently, God did not make him totally physically immune to the effects of his ordeal, but He was strengthened enough to make it through. Still, He had to bear it, because it was the punishment for the sins that were in His body, that had been committed by all of mankind - except for Him!
On the way to the cross, Jesus carried His cross part of the way and then a man named Simon carried it. Most believe this is because Jesus fell under the weight of the cross, though scripture doesn't state this clearly. It is doubtful, though, that they would have gotten someone to carry it for him unless they saw that he was having too much difficulty carrying it Himself, or actually fell, whether from the weight alone, or from fainting. Such a cross would be heavy and His body had already suffered much.
Indeed, Jesus did bear in Himself the sins of the world. Indeed, He was beaten, spit on, had hair pulled from His precious face, and more, as punishment for what we had done and what He was innocent of!
HE BORE MORE THAN OUR SIN- He bore the effect our sin had on our bodies.

Isaiah 53:4 Surely he hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows: yet we did esteem him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted.
5 But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed.

Now take a look at what is said here. I have already spoken of the effects that having the sins of the world put in Jesus' body would have caused. Now here we find scripture saying that He did, in fact, bear our griefs and carry our sorrows. When we look at the meaning of this word 'griefs' we learn much.

Griefs - Hebrew - choliy, (khol-ee') - from 'chalah' (2470); malady, anxiety, calamity:--disease, grief, (is) sick(-ness).

So griefs can include maladies, anxieties, calamities, even disease and sickness.

According to (http://www.hyperdictionary.com/dictionary/malady) - a malady is – 1 [n] impairment of normal physiological function affecting part or all of an organism - 2 - [n] any unwholesome or desperate condition;
Malady relates to the physiological or that is - ttps://en.oxforddictionaries.com/definition/physiological) - 1.1 Relating to the way in which a living organism or bodily part functions.
Sin in the body affects the functioning of the entire body. It definitely causes an unwholesome or desperate condition. We were not created to carry sin in our body, but when we do, it has a very negative impact on us mentally, spiritually and physically. In the meaning of griefs that He bore for us, is included - calamity, which is -
Calamity is (https://www.collinsdictionary.com/…/dictio…/english/calamity) - A calamity is an event that causes a great deal of damage, destruction, or personal distress.
We know that sin is the root cause of much of the calamities that are suffered in our world Sin causes a great deal of damage, destruction and personal distress to our own mind, spirit, and body, but also results in many distressing things that happen worldwide. Jesus bore our griefs which can include all of this and also anxiety, disease, and sick(-ness).
But there is more. He carried our sorrows too! Now consider what is in the meaning of this word - sorrows.
Sorrows - Hebrew - mak'ob, (mak-obe') - ... anguish or (figuratively) affliction:--grief, pain, sorrow.
According to - http://www.webster-dictionary.org/definition/ - Anguish is - n. 1.Extreme pain, either of body or mind; excruciating distress.- v. t. 1.To distress with extreme pain or grief.
Sorrow is - a feeling of great sadness or regret, or something that causes this feeling: (https://dictionary.cambridge.org/…/dictionary/english/sorrow)
Now we can see that our salvation includes so much more than many people ever realize or ever trust God for! Jesus saves us from sin and the effect of sin on every part of us. God is concerned about even our emotions. If Jesus bore all of this for us, we should understand that we can go to Him when we begin to suffer from any of these things. He is able to comfort us and relieve us, by His Spirit. He is able to speak peace to us in any and every situation.

John 15:26 But when the Comforter is come, whom I will send unto you from the Father, even the Spirit of truth, which proceedeth from the Father, he shall testify of me:

John 14:16 And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever;

John 14:26 But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you.

But let us go on to the following verse -

5 But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed.

Transgressions - Hebrew – pesha,` (peh'-shah) ... (6586); a revolt (national, moral or religious):--rebellion, sin, transgression, trespass.
Our Savior was wounded for our transgressions – our rebellion, revolt and sin.
In the Hebrew, this word 'wounded' is – chalal, (khaw-lal') - ... properly, to bore, i.e. (by implication) to wound, to dissolve; figuratively, to profane (a person, place or thing), ….
Because of our transgressions, our rebellion and sin, He was physically wounded and was profaned! According to http://www.dictionary.com/browse/, - to be profaned is - characterized by irreverence or contempt for God or sacred principles or things; irreligious.
Indeed, our Savior was physically wounded but He was also treated with disrespect, irreverence and contempt. And why? Because of our transgressions, not His own!

“he was bruised for our iniquities:

Bruised – Hebrew – daka,' (daw-kaw') - a primitive root ... to crumble; transitively, to bruise (literally or figuratively):--beat to pieces, break (in pieces), bruise, contrite, crush, destroy, humble, oppress, smite.
Iniquities – Hebrew - `avon, (aw-vone') - ... perversity, i.e. (moral) evil:--fault, iniquity, mischeif, punishment (of iniquity), sin.

Jesus was beaten to the point of flesh most likely having been ripped from His body by Roman soldiers with a cat o' nine tails. He was humbled. They probably stripped Him of all or most of His clothes and He was beaten like a slave or a person of utmost contempt, worthy of such horrid treatment. And all of this bruising was suffered for our iniquities.
Our iniquities include our perversity (Perverse - 1. Contrary to what is right or good; wicked or depraved: 2. a. Characterized by or resulting from willful opposition or resistance to what is right, expected, or reasonable: b. Willfully opposing or resisting what is right, expected, or reasonable:)
Because we willfully resisted what was right, because we willfully disobeyed God, because of the evil in us, our innocent, pure and holy God was bruised, or, that is, beaten and tortured, taking our punishment!

the chastisement of our peace was upon him”

Chastisement – Hebrew – muwcar, (moo-sawr') - ... properly, chastisement; figuratively, reproof, … bond, chastening ((-eth)), chastisement, check, correction, discipline, doctrine, instruction, rebuke.
The reproof, rebuke, correction, and discipline for what we had done was put on Christ and He bore it so that He could bring us the peace He always wanted us to have, from the beginning of our creation.

John 14:. 27 Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.

“and with his stripes we are healed”

Stripes - Hebrew - chabbuwrah, (khab-boo-raw') - ... properly, bound (with stripes), i.e. a weal (or black-and-blue mark itself):--blueness, bruise, hurt, stripe, wound.
Healed – Hebrew – rapha,' (raw-faw') - ... properly, to mend (by stitching), i.e. (figuratively) to cure:--cure, (cause to) heal, physician, repair, X thoroughly, make whole
So then, by the stripes from the whip that struck His body, from the pain and bruising that He suffered in His body, which likely wounded His spirit and mind, we, the guilty, are cured, mended and thoroughly made whole!

Hallelujah! All Glory Be To God Our Savior!!!

Too many Dragons (A children's Story by Rebecca R. Brwon)

Too Many Dragons

Joshua was only fourteen when he went on his mission

but he set out with confidence and his mother's permission

She wanted to hide him safely away from the enemy's eyes

but how could she do so when many others would die?

Her son was so young and yet so strong

and his plan just might work if God helped him along.

If God was showing him each step he should take,

then she must let him go, for the multitudes sake.

She checked over his invisible armor.

Each piece was in place.

Then she told him she loved him and gently kissed his face.

The problem was dragons that had entered the land

and brought destruction to many a man.

The large ones looked fierce and some could breath fire.

But the key to their strength was mankind's fear and selfish desires.

Those who followed selfishly in sin's awful way,

easily became the large dragon's prey!

But the people the dragons wanted the most,

the ones who they really wanted to toast,

were not easily taken, for they had a shield,

that came from God, before whom they kneeled.

Of the large, mighty dragons there were only a few

and their power was limited, though not all men knew.

They looked fierce yet with magnificent, fascinating beauty,

that drew men's curiosity away from their duty.

They were strengthened, you see, by mankind's fear.

So they made themselves look fierce,

once a person came near.

Now they hatched thousands of babies in the darkness of night,

and used them to increase men's terror and fright.

The baby dragon's tails were poisonous darts

that did not kill but wounded and weakened the heart.

They slipped in through windows and doors.

They walked in silence across darkened floors.

They whispered in thousands of sleeping ears,

making horrible sounds that the sleeping could hear.

When the people open their eyes, in the darkness, with hearts pounding hard,

The little dragons seem larger, you see, than they really are!

Once the people were overcome with terrible fear,

then mother and father dragons would hear.

They swooped in for the kill,

and a nice juicy meal!

But Joshua knew the truth and his plan, it was good

He would find the little ones nest.

He knew that he could.

God would go with him and show him the way.

He would only travel in the light of the day.

The dragons could not stand the light.

That is why they lurked in the shadows and worked mostly at night.

Joshua carried the sword of the Spirit - the Word of God.

He kept it in his hand, wherever he trod!

With it he could cut and slice,

until dragons were cut to the size of mice!

He had to be careful but had no fear at all.

As long as God went before him, he stood strong and tall!

Some other boys met him, on the very first day.

They too had received God's call and joined Joshua as he went on his way.

There was Christian, Kiah and Ethan too.

These three could be trusted.

Their hearts were brave and true.

God lead them down alleys, through forest and dens,

Where dragon nests were hidden, marched these four young men.

Some large dragons saw them,

flexed their muscles and roared.

But as long as God led them,

the mighty dragons might as well have snored!

Their size, their scales and even their teeth,

didn't frighten these soldiers, with swords in hands - not in their sheaths!

The power of God was a force field around them,

that dragons could not get through.

So they rushed the small dragon's nests,

bravely piercing them through!

Kiah sliced one in the name of the Lord,

and it screamed as it woke, waking many more,

which Ethan, Christian and Joshua attacked with their swords.

On and on they went in great battle, mile after mile,

in all the dark places, but they wore a bright smile.

And they did not stop until all had been crushed.

What once had been dragons were now puddles of mush.

Then as they traveled toward home with great joy in their hearts,

a great deal of knowledge, God began to impart.

"The small dragons," He told them, "had stirred up the fear

which weakened the people till the large dragons came near.

Only then could they hurt and destroy,

as the people were made helpless to the dragon's great joy.

But if they had known how small the dragons were,

they could have resisted their frightening lure.

They should have trusted God's love and power

to protect them from all evil, danger and sin.

They could have resisted, turned and gotten rid of them!

They could have used the power of Jesus name.

Now you must go tell them what I have told you.

Go and tell them the same.

For there will be more dragons of various size,

who will come with a vengeance to claim a prize.

Teach the people to be ready to take authority over them.

Then the dragons will lose.

They'll be unable to win.

The boys made a promise, then God told them to return,

to their villages and homes, with what they had learned.

They would spread the good news, ring the bells and rejoice!

The battle was won!

They had made the right choice!

Joshua's mother ran when she saw him,

to grab and hold him, with tears on her face.

What wonderful joy! What a warm, loving embrace!

Joshua was only fourteen when he went on his mission.

His mother was now glad, she had given permission!

by: Rebecca R. Brown 8/10/2014

WHAT MESSAGE ARE THE NFL PROTESTERS REALLY GIVING?

 ARE YOU REALLY BEING HEARD? WHAT MESSAGE ARE THE NFL PROTESTORS REALLY GIVING?

I am less interested in what the NFL players have the 'right' to do as what the consequences are and the message really being received.

Speak! By all means, speak! Use your platform to speak. But speak in such a way and in such a place where those who have fought for your freedoms, whose ancestors bled and died for your freedoms, will hear your voice and rally behind you, not feel that you are spitting on them.

Is the true message the NFL players who refused to stand for America's National Anthem, really about racial injustice? Is that the message people have really received?

It is said that Francis Scott Key wrote the lyrics of what we know as America's National Anthem on the back of a letter he pulled from his pocket on the morning of September 14, 1814, after a night of British bombardment. The flag he saw was waving over Fort McHenry. The poem was first called - “The Defence of Fort McHenry.

At that time in history, there were slaves and freemen. There were those who owned slaves and those who did not. But the battle that was being fought was against the British. It was not the Civil War. When the Civil War did take place there were people fighting to be able to continue the despicable practice of slavery, both white and black. White men did fight for this right and white men died wanting it to end. America has come a long way since then. If you try to lump our country into one big lump, you can see it as either all bad or all good and be wrong either way. A country is made up of individuals. Not all people of one race held the same views before the Civil War, nor do they today.

By 1860 one census shows there to have been 3,952,801 slaves in America while the entire population was 31,429,891. 22 states did not have slavery.

There were both white people and people of color who practiced slavery. I did not realize this until recently.

According to - http://www.theroot.com/did-black-people-own-slaves-1790895436 - some free black people in this country bought and sold other black people, and did so at least since 1654, continuing to do so right through the Civil War. - “And for a time, free black people could even "own" the services of white indentured servants in Virginia as well. Free blacks owned slaves in Boston by 1724 and in Connecticut by 1783; by 1790, 48 black people in Maryland owned 143 slaves. One particularly notorious black Maryland farmer named Nat Butler "regularly purchased and sold Negroes for the Southern trade," Halliburton wrote. - Perhaps the most insidious or desperate attempt to defend the right of black people to own slaves was the statement made on the eve of the Civil War by a group of free people of color in New Orleans, offering their services to the Confederacy, in part because they were fearful for their own enslavement: "The free colored population [native] of Louisiana … own slaves, and they are dearly attached to their native land … and they are ready to shed their blood for her defense. They have no sympathy for abolitionism; no love for the North, but they have plenty for Louisiana … They will fight for her in 1861 as they fought [to defend New Orleans from the British] in 1814-1815."

The truth is that in this country there were many who held to this horrible practice and many who did not. It is a mistake then, to look at all people of one race as being of a certain mindset and heart and it is wrong to look at an entire country and judge it by what only a part of its population is doing.

Even today, while there is racial injustice in our country, there are people of different nationalities who are not experiencing this as they live together on an equal basis. We have come a long way since Martin Luther King held his non-violent protests. But he did more than simply make himself obvious as a protester of something. He spoke words of truth, life and hope, making clear what his dream was and speaking of the truth of God. He did not despise nor disrespect his entire country.

Across America there are men who have stood behind pulpits, and spoke on public media, using the Bible for selfish purposes. Men take scriptures out of context and lie. People are confused, deceived and lied to using the Bible. And it has been used as a means for pastors to claim superior positions of authority over others while leading people into bondage. False doctrines are taught by wolves in sheep's clothing, dividing, scattering and bringing sheep to their deaths. At the same time, the true church of the living God marches on, loving, growing, edifying and doing spiritual warfare against the works of darkness. Now, if, because there are so many injustices done in the name of the Bible and the Church, you were to march down the aisle of your church on a Sun. morning, when the congregation was asked to stand for the reading of the Word of God, and you were to sit down on the floor in front of the pulpit as the congregation stood in reverence to the Bible, what would be thought?

You might be escorted out of the building. If so, suppose you called out that you were sitting in protest of the injustices propagated by the misuse of the Bible. How many would think it was alright for you to show disrespect for the Bible because some people were misusing it? Indeed, you would get attention. You might even get your name in the paper if you continued to do this, or went from church to church doing the same thing. But would the end justify the means? Would it really be alright to disrespect the Bible and the church to make your point? And even if you think it would be, what would be the message most people would really get from your actions? Would most of the people say, “He is brave to get our attention about the abuse of the Bible that is going on in other places of our country? We really should do more about it? Or would the shock and anger over your obvious disrespect for the Bible cloud out every other consideration?

When NFL players refuse to stand for the national anthem it is seen as disrespect for an entire country. Not just any country, but the very country in which they work and grow very rich. The country in which there are more black players than white and in which many have obtained fame. This action is not only, or primarily, getting attention concerning racial injustice, but has served rather to stir up even more unrest and division. It is not bringing a solution to the issue the players claim to be protesting about. It is not encouraging unity.

I am not out to deny constitutional rights. However, whatever our rights may be, what is our PURPOSE? Wisdom would have us use our privileges, not in a way that teaches our children to despise an entire country, where there are men who fight for all of our freedoms, but in ways that bring hope.

Do we have a right to make non-violent protests? Yes, we do. Well … some of the time. What? Some of the time? Are you kidding me? No … but … if you are an employee you actually DO NOT have the right to complete freedom of speech, on the job, in America. As a matter of fact look how one legal scholar explains it. And what is said in an article on - http://www.intellectualtakeout.org/article/law-professor-stop-saying-football-players-have-constitutional-right-kneel-during-national - This is what legal scholar Teresa Stanton Collett had to say on the subject: - “I don't watch football. I don't care about football. But I do care about constitutional literacy. Please stop saying football players have first amendment rights to disregard the direction of their private employers while engaged in privately sponsored activities -- which is what NFL football games are,” said Collett, a professor at the University of St. Thomas School of Law. “They have no more constitutional protection for their expressive activities than I do for mine at my private Catholic university. Any 'rights' they have are based on their contracts and employment law.”

(Cillizza atually acknowledges this fact later in his CNN piece: “Yes, the NFL is a private association made up of 32 team owners. And, yes, as such, they have the right to fire or penalize an employee who, they believe, engages in conduct unbecoming to the team.”)

It’s also worth pointing out what the NFL’s game operations manual says on the subject:

“The National Anthem must be played prior to every NFL game, and all players must be on the sideline for the National Anthem.

During the National Anthem, players on the field and bench area should stand at attention, face the flag, hold helmets in their left hand, and refrain from talking. The home team should ensure that the American flag is in good condition. It should be pointed out to players and coaches that we continue to be judged by the public in this area of respect for the flag and our country. Failure to be on the field by the start of the National Anthem may result in discipline, such as fines, suspensions, and/or the forfeiture of draft choice(s) for violations of the above, including first offenses.”

We could discuss till doom's day, whether or not the team owners 'should' fire the players who will not show respect to our country and whether or not the players 'should' refuse to stand for the National Anthem, but that will not change the legality.

'Should' and have the 'right to' are two different things.

I believe it is good to do something about injustices in our country. I believe there is a place to speak out. But why cry into the wind where your voice is lost and distorted? Why act in a way that will defeat your purpose? Much wrong has been done in this country. Much progress has been made in this country that does not hold it's people in a vise grip by a tyrannical king who will behead you for speaking of change and injustice.

Speak! By all means, speak! But speak in such a way and in such a place where those who have fought for your freedoms, whose ancestors bled and died for your freedoms, will hear your voice and rally behind you, not feel that you are spitting on them.

Do not protest injustice in a way that leaves people feeling hopeless as though their entire country is against them. Point to those who have cared, bled and died for the rights of all Americans and offer some direction for more solutions. Remind the people of what has already been accomplished and urge them toward even more. Remember change comes one person at a time. America has more than a few who hate injustice. Get people's attention by all means! But do it in a way that is profitable.

The NFL players who will not stand for the National Anthem give a message that is not what they are protesting … or does it really? Is the disrespecting of a country really more the goal than what their words say?

Christians know that we have been given a free will. We have a right to sin if we want to. We can speak words of filth and hate or words of life. We have the right. We have the freedom. And we also will face the consequences of what we choose to do with our 'rights.'

We can tell people they are going to hell and leave them with their condemnation or we can inform them, not only of their condition but of the joyous hope, the way to freedom and life. We have the 'right' to do either, but what is more profitable?

I am less interested in what the NFL players have the 'right' to do than what the consequences are and the message really being received.

American Borg

REMOVING AMERICA'S FREEDOM – CREATING THE BORG

We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.

People of America claim the right to individualism. They value freedom of religion, free speech and freedom of expression. And yet many, as the old expression goes – are cutting off their nose to spite their face – while calling on others to do the same.

The result of freedom of speech will be that we are going to hear words that express thoughts and ideas that are sometimes contrary, that is, opposite in nature, direction, or meaning, from our own. If we are to live in a country where we are free to worship as we please, then we can expect to see and hear expressions of various thoughts, ideas, and faiths, some of which we may find very troubling.

There are safeguards, as there must be, in a land that offers the freedoms we say that we value. For example, while we have freedom of speech, we are not free to slander, or to invade another man's space. We have laws against indecent exposure and so on. So then, there are protective boundaries. These are not for the purpose of denying our freedoms but rather protecting them.

To be an American, we will not only enjoy such freedom, but we will need to have the strength to survive it. When someone is believing and expressing something we are opposed to, but it is not illegal, we are forced to make decisions of our own. We can choose to separate ourselves from those individuals, which could involve a cutting off of a relationship. We can involve ourselves in debate, working to counter their claims. We can choose to ignore them, be spiteful to them etc. But we must be able to endure and put up with the expression and evidence of things we oppose, which requires strength. To be an American calls for real men and woman, not weaklings. The benefit is the freedom of individuality, the ability to be ourselves and to enjoy the fellowship of those who are like-minded.

American parents need to raise their children to be strong, physically, mentally, emotionally and spiritually and to be disciplined. For in such a country as ours, where there is good, there will also be evil. Our children need to be raised to be thinkers, people who can think for themselves and not fly by the seat of their pants, who will not be driven by the emotions of any given crowd or influence.

Today, however, we see people who, while claiming their rights to freedom of speech and expression, use their freedom in an effort to deny this same freedom to others. They want the right to eliminate our rights if it offends them. People with no more strength of character and mind, whose emotions are so weak that upon seeing or hearing something that they oppose must be so emotionally shaken that they cannot bear it, without abusing other's freedoms, are unstable and too weak to bear such a country as ours.

For by the very nature of our freedoms, we must be able to suffer those who do not think like us and who express themselves accordingly. But today, groups of individuals break the law as they destroy and deface property that depicts things they say offends them. They act either like spoiled children who must have everything their way or like unstable individuals whose psyche and tender emotions cannot tolerate anything they do not like without falling apart or going into a rage. Not only do they express their weakness, but try to spread it like an awful, contagious disease.

What is at their own core, the hatred and fear that torments them and drives them to unreasonable acts, is the very thing they attempt to spread. They try to intimidate and shame those who will not follow their example.

If, when you see a statue that represents something you disagree with, you are so shaken that you cannot emotionally withstand it, then you need spiritual and psychological help. You are unable to bear the freedoms America provides. But by no means should you expect to have the right to take away or destroy the rights of your fellow Americans or that which, for them, represents a piece of their history. You do have the right to walk away.

People get caught up in debates, asking such questions as - 'Would you want to have to see …? Or how do you think they feel when they see …? What are they to tell their child when they see …?' By such questions and displays of emotion, people are drawn into emotionally charged conversations that are irrelevant to the basic laws of our nation. Does that sound cold? It is fact. My freedom to have a sign in front of my church expressing my faith is not based on, nor can it be based on, your emotional response. It is up to you to have the strength of mind and emotion to decide how you are going to respond. You can ignore it altogether. You can explain to your children what the error is that you believe to be expressed there. You can let the words you see spur you on to search out the truth. Your response is up to you. What you are not free to do, is deny me my freedom because you do not like it.

If an African American mother walks by a statue of Robert E. Lee with her little girl, it is up to her how she will respond. She can give it no attention at all. She can tell her child that it represents what they have overcome. She can encourage her child to look into history and try to discover what that man was really like. She can say that it is a remembrance of our history, reminding us of the good and the bad. Or she can become so emotional that she brings her child to tears as she spews hateful words and tells her that the statue has no business being there. Her response is up to her. Those who wanted the statue are not responsible for her response, for we cannot look into the mind and heart of every individual.

An effort to purge America of all that offends, is an effort to remove the freedom we cherish. If each of us removes from the face of the earth, all that we say offends us, which is, more likely, all that we disagree with and don't like, there will be no more freedom of expression in our land.

Can we be kind? Yes. Can we be considerate? Yes. But to do so, we should not become like the Borg in the Voyager movies. We do not want to become a vast collection of drones who are all linked to one mind. Though, in truth, there are those who would, likely, love to see just that happen, so that they can then rule the collective.

Our differences provoke us to learn, grow, better ourselves and even attempt to bring about change. Our differences challenge us.

The very fact that you are not allowed to take away my freedoms and destroy my expressions of those freedoms, should spur you on to find means of persuasion, rather than force.

If something is being done that we truly believe is harmful to our children and our way of life, there are proper legal avenues through which to seek change. But brute force, temper tantrums, and destruction, demonstrate weakness and hatefulness that needs to be resisted not joined.

We must resist and refuse assimilation by the Borg!

As Christians, we are grieved with unrighteousness, sin, and all the things that oppose our God. We live seeing and hearing the expression of sinful hearts on a daily basis. Satan has worked long and hard in his attempt to desensitize us, so that sin will no longer bother us. If we become numb to it we will cease to be witnesses of the way of God. We will just melt into the collective.

We should recognize the things that oppose God. We should be bothered by it enough to do spiritual warfare against it. But, at all times, we should be strong in the power of God's might. We should so rely on His strength that our enemy is unable to bring us down. The things of the world, should neither entice us nor cause us to become emotionally unstable. We are the light of the world.

We know that it is only Salvation, which comes through Jesus Christ, that will truly change the hearts of men. We are called to live the truth, speak the truth, and represent Christ.

Be not deceived into thinking it is our place to purge the world of everything it calls offensive. Remember, to those bound in sin, Christians are the most offensive things of all. There has been, and continues to be, an effort to rid the world of all Christians.

If as a Christian, you do not want to be eliminated, do not get caught up in the frenzy of weak, sick and hate-filled minds, calling for the purging of all that offends. Do not cut off your nose to spite your face.

Remember that it is not a physical fight that we fight.

Ephesians 6:12 For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.

It is a spiritual battle. It is a fight of faith.

1 Timothy 6:12 Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life, whereunto thou art also called, and hast professed a good profession before many witnesses.

Our weapons are not of the physical things of earth.

2 Corinthians 10:4 (For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds;)

DO NOT – give in to emotional outcries from those seeking to lure you into emotionalism that will distract you from truth and lure you into a battle meant to strip away America's freedom and create an American Borg!

Be strong -

1 Corinthians 16:13 Watch ye, stand fast in the faith, quit you like men, be strong.

Ephesians 6:10 Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might.

2 Timothy 2:1 Thou therefore, my son, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus.

DO NOT buy the lie that to be caring you must let your emotions rule you until you are no more than an emotional basket case fighting with words of emotion that are void of truth and steal America's freedom.

It is truth that sets us free, not emotional debate and mob rule.

The Bible has instructed us to 'compel.'

Luke 14:23 And the lord said unto the servant, Go out into the highways and hedges, and compel them to come in, that my house may be filled.

Thank God for the freedom given us in America! Do not give in to those who are so weak that they are constantly ruled by 'offences.' If you are so weak that everything you disagree with upsets you beyond your ability to cope, there is a Savior who can help.

Not Of This World

     NOT OF THIS WORLD

LET THE CHILDREN OF GOD GET THEIR FOCUS ON GOD!

With all that is going on in America, at this time, Christians can become distracted from where their focus should be - at all times. We see the things of this world that have an effect on our lives, but may overlook the fact that our lives are to be in the hands of God. If that is where our lives are, then it is God who will take care of us, no matter what the world may do.

We are in this world, but we are to live as pilgrims and strangers, who are on a journey to a better place and who are of a kingdom that is not of this world.

1 Peter 2:11 Dearly beloved, I beseech you as strangers and pilgrims, abstain from fleshly lusts, which war against the soul;

John 18:36 Jesus answered, My kingdom is not of this world:....

We should not be surprised or shaken by the ungodly actions of people who have no trust in God and are full of fear and hate. These look to man for safety and for answers. When it looks like man is failing them, they are overtaken by fear, anger and hopelessness. The god of this world gives them no lasting hope or peace, but he does blind them so that they will not receive the light that can do away with their darkness.

2 Corinthians 4:4 In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them.

OUR GOD IS SUPERNATURAL!

While we are in the world we have to deal with the laws and circumstances of our land. But we should only deal with them, with our eyes on God and our ears tuned to His voice. When we see our God high and lifted up, above all things, we have nothing to fear and no doubt where our help is coming from. He will direct our ways, letting us know what to do in the everyday affairs of our lives and He will help us supernaturally, for our God is supernatural!

Hebrews 13:6 So that we may boldly say, The Lord is my helper, and I will not fear what man shall do unto me.

OUR FOCUS NEEDS TO BE ON OUR KING!

We are only one breath from eternity as it is. While men here plan and work to live and progress in earthly matters, the children of God are to be watching for the physical return of their king. Our King is alive and active in our lives now. He guides us by His Holy Spirit. But soon we will see Him with our eyes! He has instructed us to be watching for His return. If He is our love, our heart's desire, then we should be watching for Him with great anticipation.

Matthew 25:13 Watch therefore, for ye know neither the day nor the hour wherein the Son of man cometh.

Luke 21:36 Watch ye therefore, and pray always, that ye may be accounted worthy to escape all these things that shall come to pass, and to stand before the Son of man.

Let us not get so wrapped up in the goings on of this world, that we become conformed to it's ways and it's nature, that we find ourselves looking to the world as though it is all we have.

Romans 12:2 And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.

If we watch for our true ruler's return and are ready, we are going to escape all the ungodly things of this world.

The Lord is coming again! Let us not become so busy with the politics, business, cares and pressures of life on earth until we become distracted and forget to watch for our King's coming. If we do, these things will choke the Word of God out of our lives and we may not be ready when our Lord comes.

Mark 4:19 And the cares of this world, and the deceitfulness of riches, and the lusts of other things entering in, choke the word, and it becometh unfruitful.

If our Kink tarries yet a little while, we may go to Him, unexpectedly, for eternity indeed is only a breath away. Let us not be so foolish that we miss what matters most.

In the twinkling of an eye, those who are ready will find themselves in the presence of the ruler who has been ruling their hearts, minds and lives, while the world has been consumed with those things that will pass away. And when we find ourselves with our Lord, He is going to sit us down and serve us.

Luke 12:37 Blessed are those servants, whom the lord when he cometh shall find watching: verily I say unto you, that he shall gird himself, and make them to sit down to meat, and will come forth and serve them.

What a loving, and amazing King He is!

So let the world struggle, fight and protest in their frustration, fear and anger. Let them worry and fret over the affairs of this world. But, let the children of God keep their eyes on their King and praise Him for His mighty works, His love for them, His care of them, the victory He has won for them and the triumph that is ahead! Praise Him in word, song and deed. Praise Him no matter what you see in this world, for your God has already overcome the world and the victory has already been won!

John 16:33 These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.

Child of God, if you have gotten your focus misplaced, today is the day to turn your eyes upon Jesus. Remember who you are and to what kingdom you belong. Get back on the path and going forward on the journey that leads to your eternal home with your mighty, everlasting God – YOUR KING!

YOU ARE NOT OF THIS WORLD – if it be that – YOU ARE DEAD TO SIN AND ALIVE TO AND 'IN' CHRIST JESUS OUT KING!

Colossians 3:3 For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God.

Man Who Feels Like A Woman?

MAN WHO FEELS LIKE A WOMAN ON THE INSIDE?
So you think that while you are male on the outside, you are actually female inside? Wow, isn't all that stuff you go through 'inside' just the pits? How about all those hormone changes you have to deal with 25-28 days out of every month? You know, all that stuff about producing eggs, them having to leave your Fallopian tube, and all those changes in your womb, to get it ready to receive a seed. And the job all those hormone changes do to your moods, nerves, plus tenderness in your body! It's pretty trying isn't it? How about those headaches and those days when dealing with your 'monthly' just gets in the way of what you want to do?
I mean, don't you hate it when all that wears on your emotions and you just need a break? Oh, say what? You don't have a Fallopian tube? a womb? breast? (to get tender) or all the female hormone changes that must take place in order to prepare your body to carry life in it? Ummm - hold on now - that stuff is what makes you a woman 'inside' and effects your feminine psyche. So, how is it again, that you feel like a woman inside? You mean like in your 'mind'? But … but... do you have a female brain? I mean, according to http://www.webmd.com/…/featu…/how-male-female-brains-differ… – even the female brain is different from the male brain and functions differently. - “Women have more connections going left and right across the two halves of the brain. This could give them an advantage in pulling together information from different sources and drawing conclusions. The left half of the brain handles logical thinking, and the right is associated with intuition. 
Men's brains have more connections from front to back, which may heighten their perception. They may be more attuned to what's going on around them so they can take action. Men have stronger connections between brain areas for motor and spatial skills. That means males tend to do a better job at tasks that need hand-eye coordination and understanding where objects are in space, such as throwing a ball or hammering a nail.
On average, male brains are about 10% larger than female brains. 
MRIs showed the biggest gaps between the sexes were the larger amount of gray matter women had in their hippocampus, a structure that plays a role in memory, and the left caudate, which is thought to control our communication skills. Verma found that in female brains, there's more wiring in regions linked to memory and social cognition.” 
So then, how can you even know if you 'think' like a woman or not? 
Do you think you feel feminine? How can you know what feminine 'feels' like? Is it that you get the urge to walk and move like a woman or maybe dress up like one and put on make-up? Well hey, some folks have felt like they wanted to fly, even soar like an eagle. But guess what? They do not really have any idea what it feels like to be an eagle "inside.' Let me suggest that something is playing with, even tormenting your mind, but believe me, if you are lacking all that makes up a woman, inside; that results in her behaviors on the 'outside' you DO NOT feel like a woman. You have no idea what that feels like. Oh, and by the way, most of the guys who think they are moving about in a feminine manner, are over-exaggerating their movements and look very ridiculous, so I suggest you not try it until you 'naturally' grow all the insides of a woman - all - from ovaries, to womb, to every hormone and every minute detail that makes a woman a woman - ON THE INSIDE. And should you get the idea you would like to be a beautiful, powerful horse, dream on, it will happen about as fast as you will become a woman, even if you take horse hormones. And if you decide you fel like an eagle and were meant to fly, please do not jump off any great heights, in order to attempt your flight. I am afraid you will go down rather that up. You will not soar. I wouldn't try it.