Lord Jesus, We Pray, Asking You To Restore Reverence, Respect, Responsibility, Righteousness To Our Riotous Human Condition.
Again, my loved ones, do not seek revenge; instead, allow God’s wrath to make sure justice is served. Turn it over to Him. For the Scriptures say, “Revenge is Mine. I will settle all scores. Romans 12:19 The Voice
Nothing Good Can Come Of Lawlessness
Lawless, uncontrolled, fleshed out anger, is never the right choice and always ends with the innocent party paying the price for the guilty. Rioting is very irresponsible human behavior. We human beings never get it right when we take vengeance in our own hands. The enemy knows this and he stirs up strife and the bigger the mob he can gather to riot, the more the damage to those not guilty and the less true justice accomplished. It is a trick of our enemy and in the aftermath of burned businesses and communities broken beyond repair, we need to wake up and not be deceived by it again. After a riot of human flesh, what always remains is the destruction of innocent people and it is this exact divisive plan the enemy of our soul uses, as he evokes self-righteous attitudes that speak deception into your soul, falsely convincing you that can bring about justice that is right and you can do it on your own. No, not so. It always ends badly because it evokes every kind of evil in the human nature.
Who is among you who reverently fears the Lord, who obeys the voice of His Servant, yet who walks in darkness and deep trouble and has no shining splendor in his heart? Let him rely on, trust in, and be confident in the name of the Lord, and let him lean upon and be supported by his God. Behold, all you enemies of your own selves who attempt to kindle your own fires and work out your own plans of salvation, who surround and gird yourselves with momentary sparks, darts, and firebrands that you set aflame!—walk by the light of your self-made fire and of the sparks that you have kindled for yourself, if you will! But this shall you have from My hand: you shall lie down in grief and in torment. Isaiah 50:10-11
Bent Will Or Broken Spirit
Whenever a riot is kindled by our human condition to make a way for fairness, it is like a two ton truck at the top of the hill with no breaks, barreling down the street, picking up speed, squashing and destroying all that is innocently in harm’s way and exacting no justice higher than its hidden evil intent. This is not God’s way. If we kindle our own fires, they will flame out and the darkness left behind will be worse than the original reason we tried to light the fire. You think you are justified in bending the will of authority, but you end up breaking and shattering into pieces the spirit of the community. Rioting is such a deception of the enemy and the will of the enemy is seen at the dead-end of it, where we all pay hellish consequences. The consequences of sin are far reaching and sometimes even destroy a community to where it can’t rebuild. Is this a justified justice that you want?
It is clear Pilate has laid his own trap. He realizes he has given the crowd a choice, but the crowd doesn’t choose as he expects them to. Pilate saw that unless he wanted a riot on his hands, he now had to bow to their wishes. So he took a pitcher of water, stood before the crowd, and washed his hands. Pilate: You will see to this crucifixion, for this man’s blood will be upon you and not upon me. I wash myself of it. Matthew 27:24 The Voice
Uncontrolled, Fleshed Out Anger Is Dangerous
The human nature incited to “flesh out” without any control, let loose of all your pent up anger doesn’t go without any consequences to the whole. If part is out of control, the whole also suffers. Rioting is always the wrong direction to go if you want true justice. A riot is never justified, nor will it ever bring about real justice. Turn to God and His ways, not away from Him and to the human nature. Our human condition apart from God has never really been able to exact judgement without hurting the innocent. The direction of fleshed out violence, the way of uncontrolled violence is wrong and deceitfully, persistently incited by the enemy of our souls, who dictates the outcome and it never turns out with the right kind of justice. Turn from it. Fully face God.
But the Lord said to Samuel, Look not on his appearance or at the height of his stature, for I have rejected him. For the Lord sees not as man sees; for man looks on the outward appearance, but the Lord looks on the heart. 1 Samuel 16:7 Amplified Bible
Authority No Higher Than Self-Preservation Corrupts Others
Only God knows the heart of the matter, only God can see what is truly going on, only God has the fullness of truth. Our judgement is tainted by assumptions, pride, presumptions, prejudices, presuppositions, political bias, human foolishness, and self-righteousness. It is obvious that people in authority are not really all that good at helping people without God’s direction and influence. We need God, without Him situations run amuck. Irresponsible leadership, using God given authority casually and opposite in God wisdom, is very damaging to our youth and our communities. Giving people permission to riot with room to destroy, incited the worse kind of damage and enthroned pride on a platform of irresponsible violence, the worst kind of violence poured out arrogantly, by a misguided invincibility, and resulted in dysfunction of our humanity collapsing heavily upon innocent people. Lack of discipline, letting teens run wild without any accountability because of their age, is extreme foolishness and it ended in the destruction of community. Things don’t end well when human beings try to work them out with their own perception. We need God. We need a kingdom perspective working out of Godly wisdom.
My son, pay attention to all the words I am telling you. Lean in closer so you may hear all I say. Keep them before you; meditate on them; set them safely in your heart. For those who discover them, they are life. They bring wholeness and healing to their bodies. Above all else, watch over your heart; diligently guard it because from a sincere and pure heart come the good and noble things of life. Proverbs 4:20-23 The Voice
Riotous Behavior Changes The Course Of Your Life
You cannot control the velocity of anger once it is let loose without any accountability, because the motive, the original purpose of the anger is lost in the crowd of violence. You begin by exacting your form of justice only from what you think has happened, not by what you know and the pouring out of anger, this irresponsible, disrespectful, uncivil antagonism, escalates as the door of your soul vehemently bursts open and every hidden bitter poison in your heart is uncontrollably spilt out. This is the deception of the enemy at work, you give him an inch and he takes it all. This is why you must guard your heart from the divisive temptations of the enemy, because out of your heart flows the issues of your life that set the course you take.
In addition to all that has been said, Your servant will find, hidden in Your commandments, both a strong warning and a great reward for keeping them. Who could possibly know all that he has done wrong? Forgive my hidden and unknown faults. As I am Your servant, protect me from my bent toward pride, and keep sin from ruling my life. If You do this, I will be without blame, innocent of the great breach. Psalm 19:11-13 The Voice
Away From The Wisdom Of God, Causes Great Destruction
When you step out to riot and flesh out your anger because you are frustrated with the lack of justice, disappointed by humanity, you are not justified, you are out of control and doing things that you never intended or set out to do. Your out of control anger and violence, it is not really what you think it is, it goes way deeper than your defective justification. It is about your need for God. You are frustrated with your life because you are away from the ONE Who created you, designed your life course. Your purpose is unfulfilled away from God and no person on this earth can make that right. You don’t even know the extent of your heart wickedness and what it is capable of away from God. You have an enemy who will drive you to destroy and then he will destroy you. Open your eyes and see the truth, the result of your personal riot, the fleshing out of your stored up anger, the consequences of this evil enticed eruption are being paid by the innocent, not the guilty and this is the deception you bought into because you are outside of the wisdom and guidance of God.
The choices and consequences are clear. Rely on people alone, and life will be tough and brutish. Rely on the one True God, and life will be rich and productive. The heart is most devious and incurably sick. Who can understand it? It is I, the Eternal One, who probes the innermost heart and examines the innermost thoughts. I will compensate each person justly, according to his ways and by what his actions deserve. Like a partridge that hatches eggs that are not hers, so is the person who gains wealth unfairly. In the middle of his life a fool’s money will abandon him. In the end he, too, will be shown for what he is—a fool. Jeremiah 17:9-11 The Voice
The Enemies True Intention: Destroy – Kill
You have falsely been led to believe that people can meet your needs. They can’t. You were created to need God. Put your trust in God, He can. You are deceived by the enemy if you think you need a hand out from anyone. You don’t. You have everything you need to succeed in Christ Jesus. Return to Him. The enemy is not for you, he is against you and the truth is, everything he connives and tempts you to do is not for your good, but to kill, steal and destroy you and your family. God is so for you and everything formed against you by your enemy, He will turn it for you good. God is sovereign over you in that special eternal way, belong wholly-holy to Him only! Be led by Him, not by your emotions.
I have seen the kinds of tasks God has given each of us to do to keep one busy, 11 and I know God has made everything beautiful for its time. God has also placed in our minds a sense of eternity; we look back on the past and ponder over the future, yet we cannot understand the doings of God. 12 I know there is nothing better for us than to be joyful and to do good throughout our lives; Ecclesiastes 3:10-12 The Voice
You Are Created With Purpose And Eternity In Your Heart
God has put life in you, created and especially designed you with a purpose that only You can accomplish. God created us to think smart and work hard. With Him, we are able and nothing is impossible for us. You are restless, angry and unfulfilled when all you do is take from others. You were not created to take, you were created to work out your purpose in relationship with God and give. Instead of looking to get your needs met by reaching horizontally out to people, reach up vertically to God. Vital-Vertical Relationship! This is where real life happens. This is where lasting value is added to your life. This is where you are trained to be a person who adds value to their community instead of destroying it.
Finally, brothers and sisters, draw your strength and might from God. Put on the full armor of God to protect yourselves from the devil and his evil schemes. We’re not waging war against enemies of flesh and blood alone. No, this fight is against tyrants, against authorities, against supernatural powers and demon princes that slither in the darkness of this world, and against wicked spiritual armies that lurk about in heavenly places. And this is why you need to be head-to-toe in the full armor of God: so you can resist during these evil days and be fully prepared to hold your ground. Yes, stand—truth banded around your waist, righteousness as your chest plate, and feet protected in preparation to proclaim the good news of peace. Don’t forget to raise the shield of faith above all else, so you will be able to extinguish flaming spears hurled at you from the wicked one. Take also the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. Pray always. Pray in the Spirit. Pray about everything in every way you know how! And keeping all this in mind, pray on behalf of God’s people. Keep on praying feverishly, and be on the lookout until evil has been stayed. Ephesians 6 The Voice
Live Your Life In God Purpose And Experience His True Justice
There is no justifiable reason to riot. Rioting fulfills no good purpose. You are deceived. Justice and vengeance belong to God, because we are not equipped to handle it the way HE is. God see’s the heart and motive of each person, we do not know these or see them. God knows so much more than we can even begin to know. That is why the right vengeance, the right justice is His. Vengeance will never be one of your God given purposes, but will always be a temptation from the evil one. Connect to God, find your life purpose, be fulfilled, responsible and add value to your community. Your relationship with God will give you the wisdom you need to not take up the enemies offense, instead put on the full armor of God and offensively defend and raise up a standard of what is right.
And whoever causes one of these little ones, these believers who acknowledge and cleave to Me to stumble and sin, it would be better more profitable and wholesome for him if a huge millstone were hung about his neck, and he were thrown into the sea. Mark 9:42 Amplified Bible
Fight The Right Battle – The Real Battle
“Paul knows that the real battles and dangers we face are not against flesh and blood. The enemies we see are real enough, but they are animated by spiritual forces of darkness that stay strategically hidden from view. These powers often reveal themselves in institutional evils—genocide, terror, tyranny, and oppression—but the weapons needed to combat them are not earthly weapons at all. What is needed, Paul advises, is to stand firm in God’s power and to suit up in the full armor of God. Although the devil and his demon armies are destined for destruction, they are serious threats now and must be resisted and beaten back. For Paul, the best offensive weapons we have are the word of God and prayer.” Commentary Ephesians 6 The Voice
It is time like no other time to pray for God to restore the reverence for Him that leans into respect for one another, which leans into responsible civility in our nations. It is time to turn back to God, wholly-holy and incite the renewal and restoration of reverence, respect and responsibility.
A Choice For Death Or Life Has Been Given, Which Do You Choose? Riot? Righteousness?
Today I have given you the choice between life and death, between blessings and curses.
Now I call on heaven and earth to witness the choice you make. Oh, that you would choose life, so that you and your descendants might live! You can make this choice by loving the Lord your God, obeying him, and committing yourself firmly to him. This is the key to your life. And if you love and obey the Lord, you will live long in the land the Lord swore to give your ancestors Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. Deuteronomy 30:19-20 New Living Translation
We Pray God Will Restore Respect And Reverence In Humanity, By Pouring Into Our Souls His Civility And Responsibility.
The Smorgasbord Table is a place to be nourished with all kinds of different wisdom for situations in our life that we are facing now. We hope this meal specifically feeds your soul about the need we have for God in times such as these. As His servant warriors we must look to Him, pray to Him and live wholly-holy lives incited by the Holy Spirit to be a part of the army of God that is restoring reverence, respect, civility, responsibility in our servant leadership. Please share this post with others, we are hoping for a restoration of reverence. Enjoy your stay at The Bridegroom’s Café, we hope you try the manna from each table and are filled to overflowing with God’s Spirit and Truth. God bless you MUCH, KimberlyMac.