Suicide

Bloodied bodies dead and wounded lay on the ground- scattered all the way up the slopes of Mount Gilboa. Saul and his three sons and the remainder of his troops fought shoulder to shoulder. It had become clear that this battle would not end with their triumph but their demise. So with every ounce of loyalty and strength they fought with spear, sword, fist, rock and tree branch. They had taken down many Philistines in this last stand.

A row of Philistine archers took aim up to where Saul and his men stood. Their commanding officers ordered them to fire. Instantly their arrows shot into the blue and came down without warning like rains from the skies. Men fell on all sides of King Saul, some silently and some in the screams of horror and agony. Saul somewhat shocked stood with an arrow in him. He had seen this kind of wound before and it was always fetal. He slowly got up as he leaned on one of his dead.

Philistines went after the men who managed to escape the fiery of arrows leaving Saul alone. His armor bearer who had only suffered sacrificial cuts from the onslaught pushed a dead warrior who had fallen on him off him. It was then he heard the exhaled groan of his king.

The king’s legs shook as they tried to hold up his weight. A stony deathly expression filled Saul’s face.

Quickly his armor bearer went to his side. “Your majesty,” he said in disbelief as he saw the arrow sticking through the king’s armor.

Slowly and carefully the armor bear lifted the armor on the king and saw a large amount of blood netted in the king’s tunic where the arrow had entered.

Seeing his armor bear’s expression, Saul shook his head in confirmation to his belief of his wounded condition.

Armor bear slowly recovered the king’s wound with his armor seeing there was nothing he could do.

“Take your sword and kill me before those pagan Philistines run me through and humiliate me,” the king growled in disgust as he took the feathered end of the arrow and broke it with his hand.

The armor bearer was shocked. His pledge was to protect the king not kill him. He stood up and walked a few steps away as he considered the king’s request. He looked down at all the lifeless pile of bodies around him. A sense of hopelessness filled him. “Was this all there was to life? The heroic dreams he once carried faded like steam in the wind.

Saul knew the heart of his armor bearer. He knew he wouldn’t kill him and all this waiting only meant his enemy would have a greater chance of fulfilling his worst fears.

Saul took his sword and laid the handle on the ground. He then pointed the other end up under his armor and against his stomach. He then let go of the spear where his body weight fell sharp against the blade and into his unprotected gut. His body armor sounded as it hit the ground.

The armor bearer quickly turned and saw what Saul had done to himself. A man who had given in some type of value and hope was gone. He was an armor bearer to a dead king. He was nobody now. Hearing the galloping of horse, he looked to see dust rising into the air from the enemies’ approaching chariots below. The enemy would certainly not have mercy on him. He then took his own sword and fell on it for what was a good death for his king was a good death for him as well.

It wasn’t long after this when an Amaliekite hiding in the forest crossed the area where Saul, his sons, and men had fallen. He imaged everyone dead but surprisingly he heard someone still alive clutching on to a pole of spear. The man recognized that this was no ordinary man but one of royalty. “How may I help you lord?”

Saul had not finished the job he had hoped by falling on his sword. He tried to find a way to hide himself but he could not. He looked up to the man who appeared only as a dark silhouette in the sun’s light. “Who are you?” he asked in a short breath hoping he was not a Philistine.

“I am an Amaliekite,” the man answered.

“Come over here and put me out of my misery, for I am in terrible pain and want to die,” Saul requested.

The Amaliekite knowing the man’s wounds would kill him shortly anyway helped the badly wounded man onto the ground. He put one hand over Saul’s eyes. One knee on Saul’s chest and with quick deadly precision removed Saul’s sword from his gut and thrust it back in again.

There Saul’s body shook and then went motionless.

The Amaliekite quickly scoured the dead man’s body for riches and to his astonishment he found a royal crown and gold and silver bracelets.

Hearing some men approaching, he quickly grabbed Saul’s crown and one of his large gold bracelets and disappeared into the dense forest.

There in the safety of the trees he heard that the man he had put out of his misery was no other then King Saul.

Biblical story information came from 1 Samuel 31 & 2 Samuel 1 in your bible.

Suicide.

Suicide is not some heroic act. Suicide is an act of selfishness. The road to suicide is only seeing one’s value in material possessions and the way people see you. Suicide is driven by hopelessness and a lack of ignorance and understanding of God and His love and grace.

Saul’s tried to commit suicide why? What led him there?

Ahithophel, advisor, committed suicide because his advice was no longer sought out as worthy by Absalom. (2 Samuel 17:23)

Judas, the disciple who the devil entered and betrayed Jesus committed suicide because of guilt. (Matthew 27) Once Judas fell for the devil's temptations, he used him until he was no longer useful to him and then he dropped him in the pit that Judas himself had dug.

Jesus said, “The thief's purpose is to steal and kill and destroy. My purpose is to give life in all its fullness.” (John 10:10)

The only way out of a situation a person has found themselves in (because of their own sin) is through God.

People are “played” by the devil. People who think they are serving God by killing themselves and others are being “played” by the devil. Your actions either serve the devil or serve God.

“For the commandments against adultery and murder and stealing and coveting--and any other commandment--are all summed up in this one commandment: "Love your neighbor as yourself.” Romans 13:9

If you love yourself, as God wants you to love yourself, you would not kill your neighbor.

1 Peter 5:8 “Be careful! Watch out for attacks from the Devil, your great enemy. He prowls around like a roaring lion, looking for some victim to devour.”

You would never easily let a lion devour you…

Remember the true lion, the lion of your salvation- Jesus Christ. The lion of Judah, the lion that is portrayed as the great Aslan of Narnia. Your faithful friend and protector.

People who are being played by the devil open themselves up to every suggestion and temptation he has in his arsenal. They open the door of their soul and let the enemy of their soul steal what they instinctively know what is right from wrong.

“Yes they know God, but they wouldn’t worship him as God or even give him thanks. And they began to think up foolish ideas of what God was like. The result was that their minds became dark and confused. Claiming to be wise, they became utter fools instead.” Romans 1: 21

“When they refused to acknowledge God, he abandoned them to their evil minds and let them do things that should never be done. Their lives became full of every kind of wickedness, sin, greed, hate, envy, murder, fighting, deception, malicious behavior and gossip. They are backstabbers, haters of God, insolent, proud, and boastful. They are forever inventing new ways of sinning and are disobedient to their parents. They refuse to understand, break their promises and are heartless and unforgiving. They are fully aware of God’s death penalty for those who do these things, yet they go right ahead and do them anyway. And, worst yet, they encourage others to do them, too.” Romans 1:28-32

What is a person encouraging by committing suicide… more suicide.

Satan will manipulate a person into thinking suicide is the only option. He convince you that you are surrounded and there is no way out. He will make an individual so overwhelmed in his or her own thinking and emotions that they can see no way out. There is no clarity of God in those who commit suicide.

I am not talking about someone who takes a bullet for someone they love for that is murder by the hand of another human being -not suicide. Jesus Christ didn’t commit suicide. He willing and supernaturally laid down his life for our sins because he knew our sins would lead to our eternity in hell without his sinless sacrifice as the Lamb of God.

People have killed themselves because they lost every cent in the stock market… People have killed themselves because they have seen no cure to their disease. People have killed themselves because of pride and feeling humiliated. People have killed themselves because of failure. People have killed themselves because- who they thought was the love of their life had left them. People have killed themselves because they believed no one loved and appreciated them. People have killed themselves because they saw no reason or point in their life.

Strongholds of the devil in the human mind are to kill, steal and destroy a human being and those that surrounded that person. The devil wants to sift you. He wants to find your incompetence and use it against you.

That is why it is so important we don’t take God’s grace, love and wisdom for granted.

A person who commits suicide has either forgotten about God’s grace or knows very little about God’s grace. That is the same for God’s love and wisdom as well.

God’s grace is to empower us even in our weakest moment. God’s grace can be a powerful weapon. It can help us overtake and rise above where others and ourselves have failed. Be mindful of God's presence in your life.

A person who commits suicide has taken their destiny out of God’s hands. They have placed their destiny in themselves.

Jeremiah 29:11-12 “For I know the plans I have for you," says the LORD. "They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope. In those days when you pray, I will listen."

Where is your hope and future if you have not placed it with God?

A person who commits suicide either has no hope or has a false hope and no future.

Do not take God for granted. Do not take what God has given you for granted.

Lamentations 3:22-26 “The unfailing love of the LORD never ends! By his mercies we have been kept from complete destruction. Great is his faithfulness; his mercies begin afresh each day. I say to myself, The LORD is my inheritance; therefore, I will hope in him! The LORD is wonderfully good to those who wait for him and seek him. So it is good to wait quietly for salvation from the LORD.”

Overcoming Thorns

Yesterday my youngest child and I were putting up cedar branches on our porch with lights and there are some thorns on those branches. Ouch! We got bit by a few but thank God they weren't permanent painful reminders of the 60 minutes we dressed the porch up for Christmas.

In 2 Corinthians 12:7-10 the Apostle Paul is writing to the Corinth Church near Athens about a thorn in his flesh that just will not go away.

“I don’t want anyone to think more highly of me than what they can actually see in my life and my message even though I have received wonderful revelations from God. But to keep me from getting puffed up, I was given a throne in my flesh, a messenger from Satan to torment me and keep me from getting me proud. Three different times I begged the Lord to take it away. Each time he said, “My gracious favor is all you need. My power works best in your weakness.” So now I am glad to boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may work through me. Since I know it is all for Christ’s good, I am quite content with my weaknesses and with insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities. For when I am weak, then I am strong. (NLV)

I have heard several scholars speak on this passage and some say this infirmity was Paul losing his eyesight but as I read it I find it has more to do with issue of pride not some physical infirmity.

Paul’s weakness was his temptation to become prideful or boastful which stems from pride. He speaks of being boastful several times before in the previous verses. (Look at 11:16, 11:21, & 12:1.)

He says in 11: 23 “They say they serve Christ? I know I sound like a madman, but I have served him far more!” He then goes on to list all the things that have happened to him and then stops as he realizes where his thoughts have taken him and says “I have plenty to boast about and would be no fool in doing it, because I would be telling the truth. But I won’t do it. I don’t want anyone to think more highly of me than what they can actually see in my life and my message.”

It’s like Paul is realigning his thoughts here… when he says, “But I won’t do it.” He has however has "done it" in a matter of speaking because he wrote it down and sent it to the church of Corinth. Maybe he sent to show the church of Corinth his true colors and he was just as human as they are… I don’t know his reasoning.

Paul then speaks of this “thorn” in his flesh (Verse 12:7) and says it is a messenger from Satan to torment him and keep him from getting proud. (Often in scripture- "thorn" refers to "people" actually being a thorn in our side.

 

How many times has our own flesh and people's actions tempt us to sin?

A thorn in the Greek is translated as sharp stake. This “stake” isn’t going anywhere. It’s this presence that continually reminds Paul of his human weaknesses (Tendency of wanting to being prideful). So instead letting this dark presence overcome him, God has shown Paul a tool to overcome this "Thorn".

This tool is to bring light to his weaknesses,  to be submitted to God rather then his flesh in this thorny trying tempting situations.

Genesis 50:20 says, “As far as I am concerned, God turned into good what you meant for evil. He brought me to the high position I have today so I could save the lives of many people.” (NLT)

God can turn what was for evil for good in our lives if we focus on him.  We can be that light for Christ regardless of whom or what we face.

Sometimes it is a challenge to align ourselves with God but as soon as we get on the track that God is on we can move through what we perceived as a challenge or losing battle.

Paul says in 2 Corinthians verse 12:8-9 “Three different times I begged the Lord to take it away. Each time he said, “My gracious favor is all you need. My power works best in your weakness.” (NLT)

How often do we plead with God to take some of the thorns from our side away but in the end we see how that thorn has helped change us and become stronger as an individual in Christ? Ever notice how, a Christian, faced with a terminal condition becomes stronger spiritually? Their love becomes more refined. They no longer seem concerned for themselves but others. What changes in a person’s mindset with all the different kinds of thorns in our life?

I would have not become the person I am today and gained the knowledge I have today without some kind diversity, hardship, and challenge in my life.

Final verse: God says to Paul. (I like the New King James translation from the Greek to English better.) 2 Corinthians 12:9 And He said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness." Therefore most gladly I will rather boast in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. (NKJV)

Grace (Gods Riches At Christ’s Expense). When God's grace moves in us through a situation wonders happen in us and often in others as well. 

We submit ourselves to God -our worries, anxieties, troubles, circumstances and/ or oppressions and God’s quiet strength works through us. Paul adds “Therefore most gladly I will rather boast in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.

“Rest” in the Greek is to take possession of, to live in, descend upon, to work within and to give help to.  Similar the "rest" mentioned in Matthew 11:28 which is translated from the Hebrew word anapauō. Which means to keep quiet, be calm and have patient expectation. A “patient expectation” that God is watching over you and is working on your behalf. When you are patient you are often filled with the sense of peace. You are quiet inside. Your mind isn’t racing into dark corners and rabbit holes. It isn't depending on the justifying yourself an/or looking for a sift come back. You are calm.

When something rests upon you, it “overshadows” your life. You don’t "just" see God overseeing what is going on in your life but taking an active role in your life and that he is in charge. And as you let God’s Holy Spirit work within -you see and understand and are more appreciative for God working in your life as you enjoy his peace, comfort/hope, and joy.

CHRISTMAS not just another Holiday.

With all this talk about people having to replace Christmas with Happy Holidays it makes me wonder about the value of the word “Christmas”. I mean we value the words faithfulness, justice, freedom, love, hope, kindness, goodness, and unselfishness but where did those words originate? I maybe talking to the wrong crowd but what is the ultimate expression of these things that we value? How are they empowered in our lives and whom empowers them in our life?

You know, sometimes we are willing to give up something because it doesn’t mean much to us anymore.

Have we as a nation forgotten the true reason for the Christmas season so we let the few voices of opposition to the word “Christmas” make us tear down the things that say Christmas because it makes a few uncomfortable?

Are we suddenly a nation that changes just for a few? Are you willing to change what you wear, what you listen to, what you drive, what you watch just because someone doesn’t approve of what you like?

Someone doesn’t approve of Christ, the Lord of Lords, King of Kings, and Savior of all humanity so you get rid of the word “Christmas”?

What does the word Christmas mean? What happened to the Good News…? The Good News isn’t about being comfortable but about why Jesus Christ came.

“Christ”…. Are you ashamed of Christ? If you are ashamed of Christ what did Christ say about you being ashamed of him?

Christmas is suppose to bring glory to God’s son, Jesus Christ not about the other things the advertising industry makes it to be.

You say but what about the other holidays… What about them? You celebrate them then celebrate them but Christmas is Christmas. I don’t tell people they can put up the name Kwanzaa or Chanukah. In fact Chanukah is when the light triumphed over darkness… Christ is the true light that triumphs over darkness.

You who allow Christmas to be replaced by Happy Holidays, you have made the word Christmas worthless and false.

I was reading Isaiah and this is what it says. “Why do you keep parading through my courts with your worthless sacrifices? The incense you bring me is stench in my nostrils! Your celebrations of the new moon and the Sabbath day, and your special days for fasting- even your most pious meetings- are all sinful and false. I want nothing more to do with them. I hate all your festivals and sacrifices. I cannot stand the sight of them! For now on, when you lift up your hands in prayer, I will refuse to look. Even though you offer many prayers, I will not listen. For your hands are covered with the blood of your innocent victims. Wash yourselves and be clean! Let me no longer see your evil deeds. Give up your wicked ways. Learn to do good. Seek justice. Help the oppressed. Defend the orphan. Fight for the rights of widows.”

Then it says in verse 1:21 “See how Jerusalem, once so faithful, has become a prostitute. Once the home of justice and righteousness, she is now filled with murderers. Once like pure silver, you have become like worthless slag. Once so pure, you are now like watered-down wine. Your leaders are rebels, the companions of thieves. All of them take bribes and refuse to defend the orphans and the widows. Therefore, the Lord, the LORD Almighty, the Mighty One of Israel, says “I will pour out my fury on you. I will melt you down and skim off your slag. I will remove your impurities. Afterward I will give you good judges and wise counselors like the ones you use to have. Then Jerusalem will again be called the Home of Justice and the Faithful City. Because the LORD is just and righteous, the repentant people of Jerusalem will be redeemed. But all sinners will be completely destroyed, for they refused to come to the LORD.”

What does that say about America? It has become a prostitute. It accommodates who ever comes along. It calls murder of infants a choice. Justice and righteousness only come from the Lord and you want to allow a few to take down the name Christmas that points to Jesus Christ who is the only one who can save them from eternity in hell? People have watered down the meaning of Christmas to Santa Claus and his reindeer and the young who’s parents don’t attend church have no idea what Christmas means. I don’t even need to start with leaders…..

How much are you willing to let people take from you? Are you willing to prove to God and yourself that Christmas isn’t just some “Holiday”? Does the Lord’s birthday mean something to you?

Think about it.