Christians don’t kill people

Another thing Jesus changed from the old testament is killing people. Jesus said not to.

Christians don’t kill people. Lots of people say they are Christians but “Christian” is what those that really follow Jesus are called.

And the disciples were called Christians first in Antioch. Acts 11:26

Jesus never gave anyone that followed Him permission to kill anyone, and He rebuked those that suggested doing it.

And when his disciples James and John saw this, they said, Lord, wilt thou that we command fire to come down from heaven, and consume them, even as Elias did? 55 But he turned, and rebuked them, and said, Ye know not what manner of spirit ye are of. 56 For the Son of man is not come to destroy men’s lives, but to save them. And they went to another village. Luke 9:54-56

When soldiers asked John the baptist what to do to live as God wanted them to, John told them to do violence to no man.

And the soldiers likewise demanded of him, saying, And what shall we do? And he said unto them, Do violence to no man, neither accuse any falsely; and be content with your wages. Luke 3:14

How hard it must be to be a soldier and not be violent to any man. Killing people is violent, injuring them is violent.

Ye have heard that it hath been said, Thou shalt love thy neighbour, and hate thine enemy.  But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you; Matt 5:43-44

And, behold, one of them which were with Jesus stretched out his hand, and drew his sword, and struck a servant of the high priest’s, and smote off his ear.  Then said Jesus unto him, Put up again thy sword into his place: for all they that take the sword shall perish with the sword.  Thinkest thou that I cannot now pray to my Father, and he shall presently give me more than twelve legions of angels? Matt 26:51-53

He that leadeth into captivity shall go into captivity: he that killeth with the sword must be killed with the sword. Here is the patience and the faith of the saints. Rev 13:10

Ye have heard that it hath been said, An eye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth:  But I say unto you, That ye resist not evil: but whosoever shall smite thee on thy right cheek, turn to him the other also. Matt 5:38-39

Then he answered and spake unto me, saying, This is the word of the Lord unto Zerubbabel, saying, Not by might, nor by power, but by my spirit, saith the Lord of hosts. Zech 4:6

Dearly beloved, avenge not yourselves, but rather give place unto wrath: for it is written, Vengeance is mine; I will repay, saith the Lord.  Romans 12:19

For the wrath of man worketh not the righteousness of God.  James 1:20

Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might.  Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.  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.           Eph 6:10-12

For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war after the flesh:  (For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds;)       2 Cor 10:3-4

Behold, I send you forth as sheep in the midst of wolves: be ye therefore wise as serpents, and harmless as doves. Matt 10:16

“Harmless as doves”

It is hard to not fight back, unless we can see the greatness of Jesus’ power:

And Elisha prayed, and said, Lord, I pray thee, open his eyes, that he may see. And the Lord opened the eyes of the young man; and he saw: and, behold, the mountain was full of horses and chariots of fire round about Elisha. 2 Kings 6:17

Thinkest thou that I cannot now pray to my Father, and he shall presently give me more than twelve legions of angels? Matt 26:53

And laid their hands on the apostles, and put them in the common prison. But the angel of the Lord by night opened the prison doors, and brought them forth, and said,           Acts 5:18-19

Behold, I send you forth as sheep in the midst of wolves: be ye therefore wise as serpents, and harmless as doves. Matt 10:16

Some have said that we should fight with guns and things, but even in the end day the battle is fought with the Sword of the Spirit.

His head and his hairs were white like wool, as white as snow; and his eyes were as a flame of fire;  And his feet like unto fine brass, as if they burned in a furnace; and his voice as the sound of many waters.  And he had in his right hand seven stars: and out of his mouth went a sharp twoedged sword: and his countenance was as the sun shineth in his strength.  And when I saw him, I fell at his feet as dead. And he laid his right hand upon me, saying unto me, Fear not; I am the first and the last:    Rev 1:14-17

…even here it says He will fight with the sword of His mouth…

Repent; or else I will come unto thee quickly, and will fight against them with the sword of my mouth.    Rev 2:16

And the armies which were in heaven followed him upon white horses, clothed in fine linen, white and clean.  And out of his mouth goeth a sharp sword, that with it he should smite the nations: and he shall rule them with a rod of iron: and he treadeth the winepress of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God.  And he hath on his vesture and on his thigh a name written, KING OF KINGS, AND LORD OF LORDS. Rev 19:14-16

And the remnant were slain with the sword of him that sat upon the horse, which sword proceeded out of his mouth: and all the fowls were filled with their flesh. Rev 19:21

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. Heb 4:12
If you have killed someone, there is forgiveness in Jesus, Moses killed a man. King david killed someone, the apostle paul, before he met Jesus, went around persecuting christians and consenting to their being put to death. These all found repentance and forgiveness and mercy with the Lord. People can argue about this topic all the day long, but a man that has killed someone knows the truth of it, God’s laws are written on our hearts. When you ask Jesus to forgive you, He will do it, and you will finally find peace, peace that passes understanding. The ghosts of the faces of people you have killed will stop tormenting you and you will find new life in Jesus.

Moses killed a man and he had ‘good reason’ covered by the law and life for the Israelites before the birth of Jesus. He was saving a fellow Hebrew from being beaten by an Egyptian, exodus 2:11-15. king david, (before he was king) almost killed a man, but the Lord sent a woman to intervene. David had a heart that was rash and without the Lords intervention he would have killed a man for not returning his kindness. 1 Sam 25:2-31. The woman that intervened said to david verse 26: seeing the LORD hath withholden thee from coming to shed blood… 31: That this shall be no grief unto thee, nor offence of heart unto my lord, either that thou hast shed blood causeless, or that my lord hath avenged himself…

Later on in his life david did have a man killed, because david had committed adultery with the mans wife and she was pregnant by david. David had tried to get her husband home so the child might look like it was his own, but the man was too loyal to David. David had him killed when that didn’t work, that is in 2 Sam 11:2-27. The child she was pregnant with died, 2 Sam 12:9-14. David also suffered other consequences for this sin. what kind of man was David, the man that was eventually called a man after God’s own heart? He was a man transformed by Gods grace. He always repented and sought the Lord again.

And David comforted Bathsheba his wife, and went in unto her, and lay with her: and she bare a son, and he called his name Solomon: and the LORD loved him. 2 Sam 12:24

David had a lot of wives at this time, it is amazing grace that after his repentance the Lord chose to make the next king of israel out of his horrible transgression. God blessed solomon with more wisdoom and riches than any other when he became king. Amazing grace, Jesus casts our sins behind His back and returns to us with blessings.

Barabbas, a murderer was the first man that received mercy because of Jesus death on the cross.

Now at that feast he released unto them one prisoner, whomsoever they desired. And there was one named Barabbas, which lay bound with them that had made insurrection with him, who had committed murder in the insurrection. Mark 15:6-7

First, Saul (paul) was complicit with the stoning death of the disciple Stephen. Stephen who preached the gospel of repentance toward Jesus and assured those that arrested him for preaching that they had murdered Jesus. (acts 6:8-8:2)

Ye stiffnecked and uncircumcised in heart and ears, ye do always resist the Holy Ghost: as your fathers did, so do ye.  Which of the prophets have not your fathers persecuted? and they have slain them which shewed before of the coming of the Just One; of whom ye have been now the betrayers and murderers: Who have received the law by the disposition of angels, and have not kept it. Acts 7:51-53 see also Acts 7:54-60, and           Acts 8:1-3

As for Saul, he made havock of the church, entering into every house, and haling men and women committed them to prison. Acts 8:1-3

The Apostle Paul (formerly named saul Acts 13:9) reaped what he sowed. he was stoned, he went to jail often. Acts 9:1-22, Acts 9:23-35, Acts 14:19-22

And there was a certain disciple at Damascus, named Ananias; and to him said the Lord in a vision, Ananias. And he said, Behold, I am here, Lord.  And the Lord said unto him, Arise, and go into the street which is called Straight, and enquire in the house of Judas for one called Saul, of Tarsus: for, behold, he prayeth,  And hath seen in a vision a man named Ananias coming in, and putting his hand on him, that he might receive his sight. Then Ananias answered, Lord, I have heard by many of this man, how much evil he hath done to thy saints at Jerusalem:  And here he hath authority from the chief priests to bind all that call on thy name.  But the Lord said unto him, Go thy way: for he is a chosen vessel unto me, to bear my name before the Gentiles, and kings, and the children of Israel:  For I will shew him how great things he must suffer for my name’s sake.           Acts 9:10-16

I verily thought with myself, that I ought to do many things contrary to the name of Jesus of Nazareth. Which thing I also did in Jerusalem: and many of the saints did I shut up in prison, having received authority from the chief priests; and when they were put to death, I gave my voice against them.  And I punished them oft in every synagogue, and compelled them to blaspheme; and being exceedingly mad against them, I persecuted them even unto strange cities.  Whereupon as I went to Damascus with authority and commission from the chief priests,  At midday, O king, I saw in the way a light from heaven, above the brightness of the sun, shining round about me and them which journeyed with me.  And when we were all fallen to the earth, I heard a voice speaking unto me, and saying in the Hebrew tongue, Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me? it is hard for thee to kick against the pricks.  And I said, Who art thou, Lord? And he said, I am Jesus whom thou persecutest.  But rise, and stand upon thy feet: for I have appeared unto thee for this purpose, to make thee a minister and a witness both of these things which thou hast seen, and of those things in the which I will appear unto thee;  Delivering thee from the people, and from the Gentiles, unto whom now I send thee,  To open their eyes, and to turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan unto God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins, and inheritance among them which are sanctified by faith that is in me.  Whereupon, O king Agrippa, I was not disobedient unto the heavenly vision:  But shewed first unto them of Damascus, and at Jerusalem, and throughout all the coasts of Judaea, and then to the Gentiles, that they should repent and turn to God, and do works meet for repentance.  For these causes the Jews caught me in the temple, and went about to kill me.  Having therefore obtained help of God, I continue unto this day, witnessing both to small and great, saying none other things than those which the prophets and Moses did say should come:  That Christ should suffer, and that he should be the first that should rise from the dead, and should shew light unto the people, and to the Gentiles. Acts 26:8-23

Peter was so zealously trying to keep Jesus from being arrested that he attacked a man, Jesus rebuked him:

And, behold, one of them which were with Jesus stretched out his hand, and drew his sword, and struck a servant of the high priest’s, and smote off his ear.  Then said Jesus unto him, Put up again thy sword into his place: for all they that take the sword shall perish with the sword. Matt 26:51-52

Life is Holy to God, Jesus never told anyone to kill anyone. He said the opposite, resist not evil, bless your enemies. Paul reaped what he sowed and died as he had lived but lest we assume that every person that murders will be murdered, or that every murdered person had it due them, King David lived a long live and died of old age, and Jesus was convicted and killed, having done nothing wrong.

Paul was almost killed many times, he spent many years in jail, but he didn’t die until his ministry was fulfilled. Acts 9:23-35 He also wrote this:

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ: According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love:  Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will,  To the praise of the glory of his grace, wherein he hath made us accepted in the beloved.  In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace; Eph 1:3-7

Peter later spoke of people that killed people because of their ignorance:

But ye denied the Holy One and the Just, and desired a murderer to be granted unto you;  And killed the Prince of life, whom God hath raised from the dead; whereof we are witnesses.  And his name through faith in his name hath made this man strong, whom ye see and know: yea, the faith which is by him hath given him this perfect soundness in the presence of you all.  And now, brethren, I wot that through ignorance ye did it, as did also your rulers.  But those things, which God before had shewed by the mouth of all his prophets, that Christ should suffer, he hath so fulfilled.  Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, when the times of refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord;  And he shall send Jesus Christ, which before was preached unto you: Acts 3:14-20

Jesus said ” Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfil. Matt 5:17

Lets look at the law to see what is the punishment of sin, whether by ignorance or intentional:

“the sin offering of ignorance”

And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying,  Speak unto the children of Israel, saying, If a soul shall sin through ignorance against any of the commandments of the LORD concerning things which ought not to be done, and shall do against any of them:  If the priest that is anointed do sin according to the sin of the people; then let him bring for his sin, which he hath sinned, a young bullock without blemish unto the LORD for a sin offering.  And he shall bring the bullock unto the door of the tabernacle of the congregation before the LORD; and shall lay his hand upon the bullock’s head, and kill the bullock before the LORD.  And the priest that is anointed shall take of the bullock’s blood, and bring it to the tabernacle of the congregation:  And the priest shall dip his finger in the blood, and sprinkle of the blood seven times before the LORD, before the vail of the sanctuary.  And the priest shall put some of the blood upon the horns of the altar of sweet incense before the LORD, which is in the tabernacle of the congregation; and shall pour all the blood of the bullock at the bottom of the altar of the burnt offering, which is at the door of the tabernacle of the congregation.  And he shall take off from it all the fat of the bullock for the sin offering; the fat that covereth the inwards, and all the fat that is upon the inwards,  And the two kidneys, and the fat that is upon them, which is by the flanks, and the caul above the liver, with the kidneys, it shall he take away,  As it was taken off from the bullock of the sacrifice of peace offerings: and the priest shall burn them upon the altar of the burnt offering.  And the skin of the bullock, and all his flesh, with his head, and with his legs, and his inwards, and his dung,  Even the whole bullock shall he carry forth without the camp unto a clean place, where the ashes are poured out, and burn him on the wood with fire: where the ashes are poured out shall he be burnt. Lev 4:1-12

verse 3 above: …a young bullock without blemish unto the LORD for a sin offering. Jesus was young when He was crucified, He was without blemish.

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.   2 Cor 5:21

verse 4 above: And he shall bring the bullock unto the door of the tabernacle of the congregation before the LORD…

When He was arrested, Jesus was first taken to the temple where lived the high priest and the elders.
And they that had laid hold on Jesus led him away to Caiaphas the high priest, where the scribes and the elders were assembled. Matt 26:57

again from verse 4: and shall lay his hand upon the bullock’s head… what happened to Jesus:

Then the high priest rent his clothes, saying, He hath spoken blasphemy; what further need have we of witnesses? behold, now ye have heard his blasphemy. 66 What think ye? They answered and said, He is guilty of death.  Then did they spit in his face, and buffeted him; and others smote him with the palms of their hands, Matt 26:65-67

verse 5 and 6 above: And the priest that is anointed shall take of the bullock’s blood, and bring it to the tabernacle of the congregation:  And the priest shall dip his finger in the blood, and sprinkle of the blood seven times before the LORD, before the vail of the sanctuary.
I believe that when they smote Jesus, His blood was splattered in the temple, “sprinkled”. Here is the prophesy that Isaiah gave concerning the arrest of Jesus:

The Lord GOD hath given me the tongue of the learned, that I should know how to speak a word in season to him that is weary: he wakeneth morning by morning, he wakeneth mine ear to hear as the learned.  The Lord GOD hath opened mine ear, and I was not rebellious, neither turned away back.  I gave my back to the smiters, and my cheeks to them that plucked off the hair: I hid not my face from shame and spitting. Isaiah 50:4-6

Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God. Heb 12:2

We are called to be sprinkled with the blood of Jesus also:

Having therefore, brethren, boldness to enter into the holiest by the blood of Jesus, 20 By a new and living way, which he hath consecrated for us, through the veil, that is to say, his flesh;  And having an high priest over the house of God;  Let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience, and our bodies washed with pure water. Heb 10:19-22

That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word,  That he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish. Eph 5:26-27

verse 7 from above scripture about the atonement for sins: …and shall pour all the blood of the bullock at the bottom of the altar of the burnt offering… on the altar of the wooden cross, Jesus’ blood flowed down to the bottom.
verse 10 above: As it was taken off from the bullock of the sacrifice of peace offerings: and the priest shall burn them upon the altar of the burnt offering.

Jesus underwent a baptism of fire:

But I have a baptism to be baptized with; and how am I straitened till it be accomplished! Luke 12:50

I indeed baptize you with water unto repentance: but he that cometh after me is mightier than I, whose shoes I am not worthy to bear: he shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost, and with fire: Matt 3:11

For every one shall be salted with fire, and every sacrifice shall be salted with salt. Mark 9:48-49

And he taketh with him Peter and James and John, and began to be sore amazed, and to be very heavy;  And saith unto them, My soul is exceeding sorrowful unto death: tarry ye here, and watch.  And he went forward a little, and fell on the ground, and prayed that, if it were possible, the hour might pass from him. Mark 14:32-35

For our God is a consuming fire. Heb 12:29

That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honour and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ: 1 Peter 1:7

verse 12 above: 12 Even the whole bullock shall he carry forth without the camp unto a clean place, where the ashes are poured out, and burn him on the wood with fire….

Jesus suffered without the camp: For the bodies of those beasts, whose blood is brought into the sanctuary by the high priest for sin, are burned without the camp.  Wherefore Jesus also, that he might sanctify the people with his own blood, suffered without the gate.  Let us go forth therefore unto him without the camp, bearing his reproach.          Heb 13:11-13

There is a provision in the law for if the whole congregation was led astray and sinned:

Thou shalt not follow a multitude to do evil; neither shalt thou speak in a cause to decline after many to wrest judgment:  Ex 23:2

And if the whole congregation of Israel sin through ignorance, and the thing be hid from the eyes of the assembly, and they have done somewhat against any of the commandments of the LORD concerning things which should not be done, and are guilty;  When the sin, which they have sinned against it, is known, then the congregation shall offer a young bullock for the sin, and bring him before the tabernacle of the congregation.   Lev 4:13-14

And he shall do with the bullock as he did with the bullock for a sin offering, so shall he do with this: and the priest shall make an atonement for them, and it shall be forgiven them.  And he shall carry forth the bullock without the camp, and burn him as he burned the first bullock: it is a sin offering for the congregation. Lev 4:20-21

“intentional sin offering”

And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying,  Speak unto Aaron and to his sons, saying, This is the law of the sin offering: In the place where the burnt offering is killed shall the sin offering be killed before the LORD: it is most holy.  The priest that offereth it for sin shall eat it: in the holy place shall it be eaten, in the court of the tabernacle of the congregation. Lev 6:24-26

Then Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Except ye eat the flesh of the Son of man, and drink his blood, ye have no life in you.  Whoso eateth my flesh, and drinketh my blood, hath eternal life; and I will raise him up at the last day.  For my flesh is meat indeed, and my blood is drink indeed.  He that eateth my flesh, and drinketh my blood, dwelleth in me, and I in him.  As the living Father hath sent me, and I live by the Father: so he that eateth me, even he shall live by me.  This is that bread which came down from heaven: not as your fathers did eat manna, and are dead: he that eateth of this bread shall live for ever. John 6:53-58

And as they were eating, Jesus took bread, and blessed it, and brake it, and gave it to the disciples, and said, Take, eat; this is my body.  And he took the cup, and gave thanks, and gave it to them, saying, Drink ye all of it;  For this is my blood of the new testament, which is shed for many for the remission of sins. Matt 26:26-28

Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfil. Matt 5:17

Jesus became the bullock, the lamb, the dove, He became the complete offering for sin, fullfulling the requirement of the law for forgiveness of sins intentional or unintentional.

But in those sacrifices there is a remembrance again made of sins every year.  For it is not possible that the blood of bulls and of goats should take away sins.  Wherefore when he cometh into the world, he saith, Sacrifice and offering thou wouldest not, but a body hast thou prepared me:  In burnt offerings and sacrifices for sin thou hast had no pleasure.  Then said I, Lo, I come (in the volume of the book it is written of me,) to do thy will, O God.  Above when he said, Sacrifice and offering and burnt offerings and offering for sin thou wouldest not, neither hadst pleasure therein; which are offered by the law;  Then said he, Lo, I come to do thy will, O God. He taketh away the first, that he may establish the second.  By the which will we are sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all.  And every priest standeth daily ministering and offering oftentimes the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins:  But this man, after he had offered one sacrifice for sins for ever, sat down on the right hand of God;  From henceforth expecting till his enemies be made his footstool.  For by one offering he hath perfected for ever them that are sanctified.  Whereof the Holy Ghost also is a witness to us: for after that he had said before,  This is the covenant that I will make with them after those days, saith the Lord, I will put my laws into their hearts, and in their minds will I write them;  And their sins and iniquities will I remember no more.  Now where remission of these is, there is no more offering for sin. Heb 10:3-18

It is hard to suffer and not fight back, “lay down my life?” -I haven’t the power, Jesus does though. He lives in me and has already gone through death before, He can get me through it too!

When we suffer persecution God does not turn away His eyes and do nothing, He will repay those that harm us:

Recompense to no man evil for evil. Provide things honest in the sight of all men.  If it be possible, as much as lieth in you, live peaceably with all men.  Dearly beloved, avenge not yourselves, but rather give place unto wrath: for it is written, Vengeance is mine; I will repay, saith the Lord.  Therefore if thine enemy hunger, feed him; if he thirst, give him drink: for in so doing thou shalt heap coals of fire on his head.  Be not overcome of evil, but overcome evil with good. Romans 12:17-21

Sometimes this vengeance of God happens right away:

Now about that time Herod the king stretched forth his hands to vex certain of the church.  And he killed James the brother of John with the sword. And because he saw it pleased the Jews, he proceeded further to take Peter also…. Acts 12:1-3
And upon a set day Herod, arrayed in royal apparel, sat upon his throne, and made an oration unto them.  And the people gave a shout, saying, It is the voice of a god, and not of a man.  And immediately the angel of the Lord smote him, because he gave not God the glory: and he was eaten of worms, and gave up the ghost.  But the word of God grew and multiplied. Acts 12:21-24

Sometimes in the end time of judgment.

So that we ourselves glory in you in the churches of God for your patience and faith in all your persecutions and tribulations that ye endure:  Which is a manifest token of the righteous judgment of God, that ye may be counted worthy of the kingdom of God, for which ye also suffer:  Seeing it is a righteous thing with God to recompense tribulation to them that trouble you;  And to you who are troubled rest with us, when the Lord Jesus shall be revealed from heaven with his mighty angels,  In flaming fire taking vengeance on them that know not God, and that obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ:  Who shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord, and from the glory of his power; 2 Thess 1:4-9

I believe Jesus told us to pray for our enemies because He knows exactly how horrible it will be for them except they repent and are forgiven.

If you have a military outlook on life, being a pacifist doesn’t mean you aren’t going to be a soldier, you are being asked to lay down your earthly weapons to pick up heavenly ones instead.

Some see following Jesus as a description of joining an army. If you join Jesus’ army, you enlist, you have boot camp, you learn about and get your weapons, you spend a lot of time studying your manual, you learn you must always follow your Commander, that the mission is more important than your own desires. Just as you would your earthly Commander, you trust that your Captain has fought many more wars than you and that you will have to obey Him even though you think you know better. You will take your Spiritual Sword and go a conquering, setting free oppressed men women and children. “For the kingdom of God is not in word, but in power. 1 Cor 4:20” you will topple principalities and powers under the direction of your Captain Jesus, All without firing a single carnal shot. A lot of you will become Special Forces with secret missions, as Michael W Smith wrote in a song long ago, “Nobody knew His secret ambition.” Just as many Godly men and women of old like Brother Andrew who spent his life smuggling the written word into Iron Curtain countries at risk of his life, or Corrie ten Boom who was entrusted to take the gospel into the heart of the concentration camp and then into 90 countries. Oh the miracles they witnessed. God has overthrown governments and countries without mans bullets for centuries. In Jesus army you can face danger and be valiant in your own town, or you can go to far away places. You can be a pilot or drive a military vehicle, work on a big ship, on errands of mercy and humanitarian aid.

In Jesus’ army You will fight your fleshly desires so that you can be a truly devoted soldier, and all your needs will be met:

Thou therefore endure hardness, as a good soldier of Jesus Christ.  No man that warreth entangleth himself with the affairs of this life; that he may please him who hath chosen him to be a soldier. 2 Tim 2:3-4.

You will learn to be cunning and covert. You will carry the Light and infiltrate great darkness. You will suffer persecution and scorn from those that do not understand you, right along with your Captain. You will receive great and everlasting medals of honor, in this life and the next.

But thou, when thou prayest, enter into thy closet, and when thou hast shut thy door, pray to thy Father which is in secret; and thy Father which seeth in secret shall reward thee openly. Matt 6:6

As in war, some will be injured and some will die on the battle fields. When you finish your final battle and arrive at your final deployment, or the Commander comes with His forces in the air for you, and you will dine as an honored guest at His table and you will spend eternity with Him and His Father.