Heading out to News or GA forums?

[Kelly]

Heading out to 'discuss' issues with non-believers? Just a little of the Sword and Armor for you. (If you have any others please feel free to post!)

Psalm 57:4 I am surrounded by fierce lions who greedily devour human prey, whose teeth pierce like spears and arrows and whose tongues cut like swords.



Psalm 64
1
O God, listen to my complaint.
Do not let my enemies' threats overwhelm me.
2
Protect me from the plots of the wicked,
from the scheming of those who do evil.
3
Sharp tongues are the swords they wield;
bitter words are the arrows they aim.
4
They shoot from ambush at the innocent,
attacking suddenly and fearlessly.
5
They encourage each other to do evil
and plan how to set their traps.
"Who will ever notice?" they ask.
6
As they plot their crimes, they say,
"We have devised the perfect plan!"
Yes, the human heart and mind are cunning.
7
But God himself will shoot them down.
Suddenly, his arrows will pierce them.
8
Their own words will be turned against them, destroying them.
All who see it happening will shake their heads in scorn.
9
Then everyone will stand in awe,
proclaiming the mighty acts of God,
realizing all the amazing things he does.
10
The godly will rejoice in the LORD
and find shelter in him.
And those who do what is right
will praise him.

[ChrisB]

Heading out to 'discuss' issues with non-believers? Just a little of the Sword and Armor for you. (If you have any others please feel free to post!)



You're right Kelly - they are bearpits :D

I've always looked to Psalm 35 when in need of help

Psalm 35

1 Contend, O LORD , with those who contend with me;
fight against those who fight against me.
2 Take up shield and buckler;
arise and come to my aid.
3 Brandish spear and javelin [1]
against those who pursue me.
Say to my soul,
"I am your salvation."

4 May those who seek my life
be disgraced and put to shame;
may those who plot my ruin
be turned back in dismay.
5 May they be like chaff before the wind,
with the angel of the LORD driving them away;
6 may their path be dark and slippery,
with the angel of the LORD pursuing them.
7 Since they hid their net for me without cause
and without cause dug a pit for me,
8 may ruin overtake them by surprise-
may the net they hid entangle them,
may they fall into the pit, to their ruin.
9 Then my soul will rejoice in the LORD
and delight in his salvation.
10 My whole being will exclaim,
"Who is like you, O LORD ?
You rescue the poor from those too strong for them,
the poor and needy from those who rob them."

11 Ruthless witnesses come forward;
they question me on things I know nothing about.
12 They repay me evil for good
and leave my soul forlorn.
13 Yet when they were ill, I put on sackcloth
and humbled myself with fasting.
When my prayers returned to me unanswered,
14 I went about mourning
as though for my friend or brother.
I bowed my head in grief
as though weeping for my mother.
15 But when I stumbled, they gathered in glee;
attackers gathered against me when I was unaware.
They slandered me without ceasing.
16 Like the ungodly they maliciously mocked [2] ;
they gnashed their teeth at me.
17 O Lord, how long will you look on?
Rescue my life from their ravages,
my precious life from these lions.
18 I will give you thanks in the great assembly;
among throngs of people I will praise you.

19 Let not those gloat over me
who are my enemies without cause;
let not those who hate me without reason
maliciously wink the eye.
20 They do not speak peaceably,
but devise false accusations
against those who live quietly in the land.
21 They gape at me and say, "Aha! Aha!
With our own eyes we have seen it."

22 O LORD , you have seen this; be not silent.
Do not be far from me, O Lord.
23 Awake, and rise to my defense!
Contend for me, my God and Lord.
24 Vindicate me in your righteousness, O LORD my God;
do not let them gloat over me.
25 Do not let them think, "Aha, just what we wanted!"
or say, "We have swallowed him up."

26 May all who gloat over my distress
be put to shame and confusion;
may all who exalt themselves over me
be clothed with shame and disgrace.
27 May those who delight in my vindication
shout for joy and gladness;
may they always say, "The LORD be exalted,
who delights in the well-being of his servant."
28 My tongue will speak of your righteousness
and of your praises all day long.

[kdet]

We are troubled on every side, yet not distressed; we are perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not forsaken; cast down, but not destroyed….
2 Corinthians 4:8-9KJV

[Eusebios]

It seems to me that most of the above quotes from the Psalms have to do with our own sins and passions and not nearly so much with human enemies, which the members of these forums, Christian or non, are not. Just my 2 cents worth.
His unworthy servant,
Eusebios.
:prayer:

[Larry]

"13 Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. 14 Stand therefore, having girded your waist with truth, having put on the breastplate of righteousness, 15 and having shod your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace; 16 above all, taking the shield of faith with which you will be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked one. 17 And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God; 18 praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, being watchful to this end with all perseverance and supplication for all the saints." (Ephesians 6:13-18)

[Kelly]

It seems to me that most of the above quotes from the Psalms have to do with our own sins and passions and not nearly so much with human enemies, which the members of these forums, Christian or non, are not. Just my 2 cents worth.
His unworthy servant,
Eusebios.
:prayer:
I battle myself just as much as others out there. The temptation to make things personal, to get angry, spiteful, etc. when people don't see my POV.

[Eusebios]

I battle myself just as much as others out there. The temptation to make things personal, to get angry, spiteful, etc. when people don't see my POV.
Me too Kelly, hence the reminder!:)
Under His Mercy,
Eusebios.
:bow:

[Polycarp1]

8: Finally, all of you, have unity of spirit, sympathy, love of the brethren, a tender heart and a humble mind.
9: Do not return evil for evil or reviling for reviling; but on the contrary bless, for to this you have been called, that you may obtain a blessing.
10: For "He that would love life and see good days, let him keep his tongue from evil and his lips from speaking guile;
11: let him turn away from evil and do right; let him seek peace and pursue it.
12: For the eyes of the Lord are upon the righteous, and his ears are open to their prayer. But the face of the Lord is against those that do evil."
13: Now who is there to harm you if you are zealous for what is right?
14: But even if you do suffer for righteousness' sake, you will be blessed. Have no fear of them, nor be troubled,
15: but in your hearts reverence Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to make a defense to any one who calls you to account for the hope that is in you, yet do it with gentleness and reverence;
16: and keep your conscience clear, so that, when you are abused, those who revile your good behavior in Christ may be put to shame.
(I Peter 3:8-16, RSV)

[kdet]

I liked this part of that verse.

1 Peter 13: Now who is there to harm you if you are zealous for what is right?
14: But even if you do suffer for righteousness' sake, you will be blessed. Have no fear of them, nor be troubled,

[EdmundBlackadderTheThird]

2 Timothy 3:16 All Scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness;
17 so that the man of God may be adequate, equipped for every good work.



2 Tim 4:1 I solemnly charge you in the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who is to judge the living and the dead, and by His appearing and His kingdom:
2 preach the word; be ready in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort, with great patience and instruction.
3 For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but wanting to have their ears tickled, they will accumulate for themselves teachers in accordance to their own desires,
4 and will turn away their ears from the truth and will turn aside to myths.
5 But you, be sober in all things, endure hardship, do the work of an evangelist, fulfill your ministry.


Those are my two when heading into News and Politics....

[Kelly]

3 For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but wanting to have their ears tickled, they will accumulate for themselves teachers in accordance to their own desires,
4 and will turn away their ears from the truth and will turn aside to myths.
Wow....how very congruent. Thanks flesh99

[Echoes Peak]

10Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. 11Put on the full armor of God so that you can take your stand against the devil's schemes. 12For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. 13Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. 14Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, 15and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. 16In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. 17Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. 18And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the saints.
19Pray also for me, that whenever I open my mouth, words may be given me so that I will fearlessly make known the mystery of the gospel, 20for which I am an ambassador in chains. Pray that I may declare it fearlessly, as I should. (Ephesians 6:10-20)

I've had these verses in my head for awhile.