Number One- Never assume you know everything there is to know about anyone.
There are no experts. When you hear and expert on any topic, understand that he has inhaled the incense of a fool if he really believes he is an expert.
Example: My wife and I lived through a Marxist coup in Ethiopia. The new regime was known to be Communist and Marxist, after a couple of days. We learned later from the American ambassador that Henry Kissinger sent millions of dollars and fighter jets to the new regime to curry favor with them. This usually works, but Henry was dead wrong this time. He got nothing but trouble for his diplomatic trick. This is because Henry does NOT know everything, and in this case, he did not understand the mind of Ethiopians.
When you hear a preacher called "the answer man," he ain't. The answer man implies the guy can answer any question from the Bible. Understand at once that he has his own presuppositions, and one of them is that he has all the answers. He cannot be right all the time because he did not inspire the Bible..... God the Holy Spirit did. The best teachers are the ones who regularly say, "I am not sure what that means," or, "I will look into that and get back to you."
Always allow that your information on any topic, person, or situation is defective, and be ready to accept new information or advice from new sources. Make changes in your dealing with the thing accordingly. If you were wrong, admit it to those you work with, but most importantly, admit it to yourself. If you do not do this, you will become a self-deluded pest to society and to the Lord's Church.
Number Two- Never allow yourself to be disarmed.
This usually applies to weapons like guns or mace. But, to a Bible believer it means to never be without the Word of God as a weapon to do combat with the devil and his helpers. Here is the way to "carry" for a Bible believer:
Hebrews 4:12 For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.
In dealing with the devil or troublesome people, the Bible will cut through the rubbish information and get you to the solution and the answer every time. But, you must have it in your mind.
Psalms 119:11 Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee.
God has chosen to send you into combat spiritually and intellectually. There are people you will deal with who are hand picked by Satan to destroy Bible believers. You need to be full of the preparation of the Gospel. The Bible is called the Sword of the Spirit for a reason..... you are in warfare with the wicked, and God plans on you winning by his strength and his Word.
As to the issue again of carrying a gun or other weapon, there are some options that will work if you cannot carry a gun. Pepper spray is useful, but an easy one is pharmaceutical grade ammonia in a spray container. Just do not aim for the eyes. Hit the threatening person or dog in the chest or lower face. The fumes will incapacitate them.
Number Three- Never get on the bus.
The bus could be going to a FEMA camp some day, and you will be told, "Just get on the bus, and we will take you where people are ready to take care of your every need." When the government offers to take care of you, you are a blithering idiot to believe there are no strings attached. You are a fool to believe they really care about you.
The same applies to the bus to a Gothard rally or some seminar where a Christian guru is going to make you into a better Christian. When you are told that the only way to have victory in your life is to ride a bus clear across the state to some rally, you are a fool to leave the local church where the Holy Spirit said that Christ would build his Church.
This applies to any self-improvement program or presentation. If there is a guru involved, it is not of the Lord Jesus Christ. Who has God given you to teach and help you in the Christian life?
Answer: People with spiritual gifts in the local church.
Ephesians 4:11 And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers;
12 For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ:
If your local church does not seem to have such people it is because you are in a crippled or heretical church. Move along until you find edifying men in a local church, and stay there. God has given you the power of the will and of choice. It is up to YOU to refuse the invitations to get in line and obey other people.
Number Four- Never stop improving your life or situation.
If you grow a garden you know about this very well. Any serious gardener is always listening and reading to see if he can get better results from the soil, seed, watering, or any other gardening choices.
If you are in a self-defense situation, and you are hiding behind an object from an approaching enemy, can you improve your chances of winning the battle? Can you put the enemy under terror in some way.
Example: During the Mau Mau uprising in Kenya in the 1950s, a team of African soldiers were chasing several Mau Mau through the forest, The Mau Mau were keeping ahead of the soldiers, but they came to a steep hill. If they climbed the hill, they would escape, so one soldier stood and yelled, "Stay where you are, they are coming up to you now." This panicked the Mau Mau because they thought another group of soldiers were at the top of the hill hiding. The Mau Mau turned and ran into an area where they could be caught.
When you are in combat with Satan or his servants, anything you can do to improve your chances of defending yourself, your family, or your Christian friends must be added to the ongoing battle strategy.
Example: In a church I pastored, I decided to start attending all the public school board meetings of the public school nearby. I wanted to know what was going on and register my opinions from the perspective of a Bible believer. This went on for a while, and the school board got to dread seeing me in the audience. The board meetings were on Thursday evening, so they changed them to Wednesday evening because they knew I had to lead Wednesday evening prayer meeting and Bible study. So, our church changed prayer meeting to Thursday evening so that I could go to the school board meetings. The board gave up on trying to escape from me.
Keep your position in the Christian warfare improving so that you have the high ground in Christ. Your knowledge of the Bible is never good enough. Keep studying it. Your knowledge of the tactics of the devil must be improving. I know preachers who claim they learn nothing about the cults and false religions. They just rely on the Bible. God cannot use the man who refuses to learn the tactics of the enemy.
1 Peter 5:8 Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour:
9 Whom resist stedfast in the faith, knowing that the same afflictions are accomplished in your brethren that are in the world.
How do we learn about our adversary? Watch what he does to brethren in the world. How does he attack other people, and what do his servants teach those who are deceived?
Finally, never start coasting in your earthly vocation. If you have a job where you are very much needed by your company, do not become complacent my friend. Find ways to keep doing your job better. There is someone hanging around nearby who wants you job, and he better not be better than you at it if you can possibly help it.
Number Five- Never quit. People quit because they get discouraged. They get discouraged because they lose their confidence. This may be confidence in God, in your spouse, or in people in general.
Hebrews 10:35 Cast not away therefore your confidence, which hath great recompence of reward.
36 For ye have need of patience, that, after ye have done the will of God, ye might receive the promise.
Patience is usually missing when someone wants to quit. There are always reasons to quit because life has a way of going wrong from time to time.
Example: Have you ever watched a stock car race, and you wonder why the guy in last place keeps driving? He has virtually no chance to win.
Kyle Larson was last in the starting field at this NASCAR race at New Hampshire Motor Speedway, starting in 39th place. He fought his way to win second place in the end. At any point along the way no one would have blamed him for losing his fighting spirit as he had to pass 37 other cars to get his win. SEE THE END OF THE RACE
In the race of life, God has no second or third place in mind for his children. Everyone is considered a winner according to the Apostle Paul:
Romans 8:35 Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword?
36 As it is written, For thy sake we are killed all the day long; we are accounted as sheep for the slaughter.
37 Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us.
38 For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come,
39 Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Number Five- Never quit. People quit because they get discouraged. They get discouraged because they lose their confidence. This may be confidence in God, in your spouse, or in people in general.
Hebrews 10:35 Cast not away therefore your confidence, which hath great recompence of reward.
36 For ye have need of patience, that, after ye have done the will of God, ye might receive the promise.
Patience is usually missing when someone wants to quit. There are always reasons to quit because life has a way of going wrong from time to time.
Example: Have you ever watched a stock car race, and you wonder why the guy in last place keeps driving? He has virtually no chance to win.
Kyle Larson was last in the starting field at this NASCAR race at New Hampshire Motor Speedway, starting in 39th place. He fought his way to win second place in the end. At any point along the way no one would have blamed him for losing his fighting spirit as he had to pass 37 other cars to get his win. SEE THE END OF THE RACE
In the race of life, God has no second or third place in mind for his children. Everyone is considered a winner according to the Apostle Paul:
Romans 8:35 Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword?
36 As it is written, For thy sake we are killed all the day long; we are accounted as sheep for the slaughter.
37 Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us.
38 For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come,
39 Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
As one man said, "Lead, follow, or carry ammo." You are never out of the battle with Christ. He has no plans for you to be defeated.
Never say, "Quit."
