Under the Oppressor — Inertia

I have talked about how easy it is for anyone to give up on anything, but there’s another dimension to this.

There is another part of us that is unable to do anything and unable to make moves to experience freedom. 

It is unrelated to the human willingness to remain in perpetual bondage but a subconscious plus a  master-class act of the enemy that makes anyone unresponsive. 

It is similar to the bizarre experience you have in dreams when you are unable to do anything, especially when you are “pressed” to the bed against your will. I believe some understand what I am trying to convey. 

Judges 16:18-21 NET 18 When Delilah saw that he had told her his secret, she sent for the rulers of the Philistines, saying, “Come up here again, for he has told me his secret.” So the rulers of the Philistines went up to visit her, bringing the silver in their hands. 19 She made him go to sleep on her lap and then called a man in to shave off the seven braids of his hair. She made him vulnerable and his strength left him. 20 She said, “The Philistines are here, Samson!” He woke up and thought, “I will do as I did before and shake myself free.” But he did not realize that the LORD had left him. 21 The Philistines captured him and gouged out his eyes. They brought him down to Gaza and bound him in bronze chains. He became a grinder in the prison.

The enemy weakens you and makes you unresponsive to the slightest impulse. 

I will give one more example. 

Jesus encouraged Peter to pray so that he could escape the temptation. I believe Peter wanted to pray. He probably made attempts. 

He made bold claims that he would 

Luk 22:31-34 NET 31 “Simon, Simon, pay attention! Satan has demanded to have you all, to sift you like wheat, 32 but I have prayed for you, Simon, that your faith may not fail. When you have turned back, strengthen your brothers.” 33 But Peter said to him, “Lord, I am ready to go with you both to prison and to death!” 34 Jesus replied, “I tell you, Peter, the rooster will not crow today until you have denied three times that you know me.”

He tried. He was too weak.  If he had prayed, the story could have been different.

This was the inertia state of man. It consists of the inability to do anything even though you want to, and it represents the weakest state of any man.

It is the most vulnerable condition that anyone cannot escape. 

Jesus saw his willingness, and He prayed for Peter.

So, Jesus, having been through all our problems prays for us all the time.

 Heb 4:15-16 NET 15 For we do not have a high priest incapable of sympathizing with our weaknesses, but one who has been tempted in every way just as we are, yet without sin. 16 Therefore let us confidently approach the throne of grace to receive mercy and find grace whenever we need help.

I feel like if Jesus does not pray for us, we will still be saved but not victorious here on earth. 

Heb 7:25 NET So he is able to save completely those who come to God through him, because he always lives to intercede for them.

Yes, Jesus is still very busy in heaven working on our behalf. 

Rom 8:34 NET Who is the one who will condemn? Christ is the one who died (and more than that, he was raised), who is at the right hand of God, and who also is interceding for us.

Hallelujah!

Under the Oppressor — lord over

The devil is the master of all liars. His biggest tool is lies. It is easy to deceive others with some big lies. 

So, why is lying so important?

It is because when others believe your lies, they listen to you, obey you and follow you.

That is, they become your “slaves” and you become their master. The whole intention is that you can “lord over” your subject if they can believe you. 

This is the whole scheme from the beginning. 

John 8:44 EasyEnglish You are the children of your father, the Devil. And you want to do the things that he wants. From the beginning, he was someone who killed people. He did not continue with what is true. There is nothing true in him. He says things that are not true. And then he is showing what he himself is like. He is the father of everything that is not true.

Those under addiction want out, but they have become “slaves” to it that it is difficult to lose the grip.

Paul explained this clearly. 

Rom 7:14-20 NET 14 For we know that the law is spiritual – but I am unspiritual, sold into slavery to sin. 15 For I don’t understand what I am doing. For I do not do what I want – instead, I do what I hate. 16 But if I do what I don’t want, I agree that the law is good. 17 But now it is no longer me doing it, but sin that lives in me. 18 For I know that nothing good lives in me, that is, in my flesh. For I want to do the good, but I cannot do it. 19 For I do not do the good I want, but I do the very evil I do not want! 20 Now if I do what I do not want, it is no longer me doing it but sin that lives in me.

But we have the victory in Jesus name!

1Co 15:57 NET But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ!

 Say this prayer: Satan, lose your grip over me in Jesus mighty name!

Chains are broken in the name of Jesus!

 

Deep thinking

It takes less than a second to think. So thinking is faster than speaking.

If thinking is faster than speaking, then it’s possible to think before speaking.

What’s the good in going to the next level if one is failure bound at the next level?

If the risk is failure guaranteed, then the risk is not worth taking.

If one is constantly chasing after money, Gold and Silver, there’s a high probability that one will be missing out on other areas of life.

From Wisdom Snippets

Under the Oppressor — Open your “other eye”

Liberation of the mind is the ultimate deliverance from the Oppressor.

Take a cue from the Israelites when in Egypt. They oppressed the Israelites. They truly wanted deliverance, but when the deliverer came, they were doubtful.

In fact, one betrayed Moses and shouted, “who made you lord over us”. They wanted deliverance but weren’t ready.

They constantly brutalized their physical bodies, and their minds were also in captivity.

If the mind is not free, the physical body can’t be free.

God had to remind them and reassure them again and again of His promises to get their mind to a liberated condition that would facilitate their ultimate freedom.

If your mind is not “free”, your life is likely clouded. If your mind is clogged, you won’t be able to see your future clearly. If your mind is blind, then you’re in the dark.

The ultimate freedom of man is the liberation of the mind.

You can “see” deeper things not through the eyes but through the mind.

Your other eye is your mind.

The life of man on earth 16.0 (neglect and abandonment)

Job experienced the sorriest condition ever recorded in the Bible. 

Abandonment and rejection are fatal for the emotional state of any person. They can lead to depression, dejection, and ultimately suicide. 

I am not here to recommend any solution. That is not my field. 

I am discussing the Life of a man using Job as a case study. 

Job suffered and endured, but he came out successfully. If he can, so can you!

Do not give up!

Do not resort to the condition. Instead, report your condition to God and trust Him to help you.

Under the Oppressor — brainwashing

The intention of the Oppressor is to make you assume and believe all is well, whereas it is the opposite.

So, he repeats the same thing you like to hear or its preferences over and again until it becomes embedded in your mind.

It is a mind game that is damaging to our image and who we are.

It is a tactical way of forcing people to do your bidding.

The Egyptians ruthlessly forced the Israelis to serve them. Exodus 1:13

Be careful how you think. Your thoughts make you the person that you are.

The intention of liars is to make you believe that a false narrative is true, whereas it is not.

The devil is a liar and the father of liars. So, he lies to make false statements all the time. He deceived Eve by lying. 

The ultimate end of liars is destruction. 

1Ki 22:20-23 NET 20 The LORD said, ‘Who will deceive Ahab, so he will attack Ramoth Gilead and die there?’ One said this and another that. 21 Then a spirit stepped forward and stood before the LORD. He said, ‘I will deceive him.’ The LORD asked him, ‘How?’ 22 He replied, ‘I will go out and be a lying spirit in the mouths of all his prophets.’ The LORD said, ‘Deceive and overpower him. Go out and do as you have proposed.’ 23 So now, look, the LORD has placed a lying spirit in the mouths of all these prophets of yours; but the LORD has decreed disaster for you.”

I do not believe the devil is capable of speaking the truth. His nature is to deceive, and he does so every single day. 

John 8:44 NET You people are from your father the devil, and you want to do what your father desires. He was a murderer from the beginning and does not uphold the truth, because there is no truth in him. Whenever he lies, he speaks according to his own nature, because he is a liar and the father of lies.

Because the devil speaks lies every time, he is able to deceive using immense pressure. He has servants, and they are constantly pressuring people of all kinds to do things against God’s will. 

The only way to overcome lies is to apply the truth. 

John 8:32 NET and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.”

The truth is also a weapon that can destroy lies and all the pressures it brings. 

Eph 6:14 NET Stand firm therefore, by fastening the belt of truth around your waist, by putting on the breastplate of righteousness,

 

The life of man on earth 15.0 (no comforter)

Job 16:2 EasyEnglish ‘I have heard all these things before. When you speak to me, you do not help me. Nor do you make me any happier.

Today, it is likely to experience ridicule, shame, and disgrace from people, including close relatives. 

When there is no comfort from anyone, do not look down.

Look up!

Look up to God for help and support.

It can be daunting and challenging but keep looking up. Don’t look down!

Psa 121:1-2 NET 1 I look up toward the hills. From where does my help come? 2 My help comes from the LORD, the Creator of heaven and earth!

Traditions and Philosophy

What do they want from you? Nothing but to control you!

Control the government (gain power); control the people!

The control may be deliberate and not deliberate, intentional and unintentional.

Colossians 2:8 NIV
See to it that no one takes you captive through hollow and deceptive philosophy, which depends on human tradition and the elemental spiritual forces of this world rather than on Christ.

Do I have to pray in a particular way before God can hear me?

Do I have to dress according to your prescription before I can worship God from my heart?

If I don’t give for any reason, Will God not bless me?

Do I have to impress God before He can do me a favor or bless me?

Why do people judge other people based on their personal beliefs and conviction? Because they want you to follow a set of rules and patterns, probably.

They are not God and will never be!

1Co 11:1 KJV Be ye followers of me, even as I also am of Christ.

Are they the Savior or the Forgiver of sin? No!

Galatians 4:10 NIV
You are observing special days and months and seasons and years!

The weak are prone to deception.

If you do not do it as we do, are you doing it correctly?

Religion cannot save anyone!

Observation of certain days is meaningless.

The love for God and humanity are what matters.

What makes some think they are right? Nothing!

It is in human nature to control. So, to control other people, they set up some rules that are not necessarily Bible-based.

The pharisee did it, and Jesus rebuked them several times. They want people to live their life in a certain way while they live an unrighteous life.

They are hypocrites. They are not lovers of God.

Jesus did not force His message on people.

He said, Rev 3:20 NET Listen! I am standing at the door and knocking! If anyone hears my voice and opens the door I will come into his home and share a meal with him, and he with me.

He is standing waiting until you let Him in. He will never force Himself in.

Pro-life does not necessarily mean protection of life.

It is possible that when kids are “brought” into this world, they get shot by gun bullets. But they are unwilling to do anything to reduce mass killings due to gun violence.

So, do I have to listen to others? Only if they are listening to God themselves.

Do I have to “pay attention” to other people’s opinions before making decisions? Sometimes you can, but God can (and will) speak to you if it is something He would like you to do.

How about daily decisions?  Follow your heart!

You are likely to make good decisions if your heart is right.

The life of man on earth 12.0 (deep silence)

Whenever there is no response or reply to our request, we often become agitated. 

Throughout Job’s experience, God did not give a reply or answer to any questions until the end.

I have observed that God does not respond quickly sometimes when we ask questions.

The reason for this, I have no idea. God is not responsible for us and does not need to account for anything.

For instance, Job asked God, Job 13:23-24 NET 23 How many are my iniquities and sins? Show me my transgression and my sin. 24 Why do you hide your face and regard me as your enemy?

Jesus also asked God questions when He was close to crucifixion: Mat 27:46 NET At about three o’clock Jesus shouted with a loud voice, “Eli, Eli, lema sabachthani?” that is, “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?”

I believe God is not deliberately silent and unwilling to answer. He knows the right thing to do all the time. So, He knows the best thing for us.

Sometimes, if God responds, it might end in disaster. 

We are hard to convince on any issue. So, staying silent seems to be the best reaction from a loving God.

Next time He is silent, understand He has the best intentions for you.

The life of man on earth 11.0 (in the face of adversity)

Job 13:15 NET Even if he slays me, I will hope in him; I will surely defend my ways to his face!

The example that comes to mind is the Hebrew boys’ reaction to the threat of punishment and death if they refuse to bow to a strange god.

Dan 3:16-18 NET 16 Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego replied to King Nebuchadnezzar, “We do not need to give you a reply concerning this. 17 If our God whom we are serving exists, he is able to rescue us from the furnace of blazing fire, and he will rescue us, O king, from your power as well. 18 But if not, let it be known to you, O king, that we don’t serve your gods, and we will not pay homage to the golden statue that you have erected.”

Their reply was out of pure confidence in the ability of God to rescue them. The fascinating thing is not the confidence but their unwavering stance on God they believe. 

Job exhibited the same. His wife implored him to curse God. He did not! 

Stand strong when you are in an adverse situation. 

Train your mind not to let go of your hope and confidence in God’s ability. 

Heb 10:35-36 NET 35 So do not throw away your confidence, because it has great reward. 36 For you need endurance in order to do God’s will and so receive what is promised.

It is your faith that overcomes. So, keep it!