When we take matters into our own hands

When we take matters into our own hands
5 maart 2011 om 17:37


We are seeing riots, rumour of wars and wars, each and every day on our TV screens or see posts flash by on our computers. People all over the world want freedom. Freedom from things as:
Lack of food, lack of honest judges and governments, lack of work and general no future from themselves and their families. People are tired, generally frustrated and from a human perspective it is logical that people are taking matters into their own hands and that they will run to their own ‘freedomsquare’ – the name of the square in Egypt (Tahrir, meaning reedom)

Nobody in their right mind want to live in a place where unrighteousness rules, nobody wants their future to be threatened, to have hopes and dreams seeing splatter against the wall. Isn’t it about time that we also go to our ‘Freedomsquare’?

The first thing we should ask ourselves is we have a right sense or feeling about what unrighteousness and thus also what righteousness is? If we take the Bible as the author and finisher of our faith. we as a human beings don’t have a complete and correct view about right and wrong. Our view is somewhat distorted. Why? Simple answer… SIN. Sin distracts and maybe you could say diverts us from looking to right and wrong in the way God sees it. Psalm 53:4 says it very well. We all are diverted… There is no one who does right, no not one!.

The bible warns us where sin and unrighteousness eventually will lead us. “The wages of Sin is dead!” Many people, even Christians think that we ourselves can find away, away from unrighteousness, that we can succeed on our own. But every time we take matters in our own hands we tend to make matters worse. Not only for ourselves but even for our own fellowman.

Lets look at Adam and Eve for an instance. If you look the garden of Eden from an human perspective. How could God receive mankind to know and eat from that one three in the Garden. How could (just as the serpant, the snake, the Devil said) withhold mankind knowledge of right and wrong. God should make his plans know to mankind. God said through Isaiah the following: “7Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts: and let him return unto the LORD, and he will have mercy upon him; and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon. For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the LORD. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts. “ Ish. 55:7-9

But Adam and Eve thought they knew what was right, they choose to take matters into their own hands. And we all, every human being has to live with the consequences of their ‘righteous deed” Sin filled this world. The Devil trying to deceive and we have to seek true righteousness. What happend when Adam en Eve took matter into their own hands. Sin came into this world. Dead appeared arrount the corner. Instead of true freedom, we entered a world of filled of Sin.

Not long after Adam and Eve. Cain and Abel where on the scene. Giving sacrifices to the God of Heaven and Earth. But only the sacrifice of Abel was accepted in the eyes of God. And we all know the story. Cain was not happy at all. How could God be so unrighteousness? Jesus himself said that God is looking for worshippers in Spirit and Truth (in John 4). But what does many Christians tend to make ot it. God should accept worship and our scarifies at our own terms and conditions. We worship.. (we think) so God must accept is (we tend to argue). But our God is very specific. Only on His terms He will accept our Worship. Look at what Jesus says trough Isiah,

“To what purpose is the multitude of your sacrifices unto me? saith the LORD: I am full of the burnt offerings of rams, and the fat of fed beasts; and I delight not in the blood of bullocks, or of lambs, or of he goats. 12When ye come to appear before me, who hath required this at your hand, to tread my courts? 13Bring no more vain oblations; incense is an abomination unto me; the new moons and sabbaths, the calling of assemblies, I cannot away with; it is iniquity, even the solemn meeting. 14Your new moons and your appointed feasts my soul hateth: they are a trouble unto me; I am weary to bear them. 15And when ye spread forth your hands, I will hide mine eyes from you: yea, when ye make many prayers, I will not hear: your hands are full of blood. 16Wash you, make you clean; put away the evil of your doings from before mine eyes; cease to do evil; Ïsiah 1:11-16


The Bible says that there is only remissions of Sin, through blood. So Cain’s offer. How beatuifull it could be in human eyes. Was clear NOT acceptable by God and rightely so rejected. Cain was thinking, “How could this unrighteousness deed, being done by God Himself. And Cain took matters into his own hands… and killed is brother. And Cain left… by building the worlds first city… a place were sin an unrighteousness ruled. So badly that God eventually had to purify the world with water and had to save Noah and his family by putting them savely on the Ark.

After the waters went away, man didn’t stay as righteousness as Noah was. Man thought by Himself.. what God did with the destruction of mankind was wrong. And mankind should do everything possible to prevent God of doing something similair. So what did man.. They built a tower (of Babel) to protect themselves from possible unrighteous deeds by God himself. Mankind gave their worship to Nimrod. They loved righteousness through human eyes and rejected to true love and mercy from God Himself, and the people of Babel built a tower. They took matters into their own hands so God had to eventually confuses the languages of those people .

Many, Many years latter the people of Isreal wanted to have a ruler, a king just as the peoples all around them. They found that God treated Isreal unsavourily and maybe unrighteous because God witheld them a King of flesh and blood.
Well the people got their God, Because God approved. God through Samuel anointed Saul. To be king. And we all know the story of King Saul. Just one year after he became king everything went wrong. Their was a big battle at the horizon at Gilgal. Many armies of the philistines. Where about to attack the armies of Saul. The people were scarred. Saul didn’ t know what to do and Samuel the prophet said. Just wait seven days and I will bring a burnt offering before te Lord. But after seven days Samuel did not returned.

And what happened. Saul took matters into his own hands. Why wait? Read with me in verse 11 in 1 Samuel 13: 11 4And Samuel said, What hast thou done? And Saul said, Because I saw that the people were scattered from me, and that thou camest not within the days appointed, and that the Philistines gathered themselves together at Michmash; 12Therefore said I, The Philistines will come down now upon me to Gilgal, and I have not made supplication unto the LORD: I forced myself therefore, and offered a burnt offering.”

But what happens if we can’t wait on the Lord, what happens if we take matters into our own hands, if we tend to think that we know what righteoussnss is? What Samuel said to Saol, is the same what God could say to us. If we cannot wait upon the Lord, “13And Samuel said to Saul, Thou hast done foolishly: thou hast not kept the commandment of the LORD thy God, which he commanded thee: for now would the LORD have established thy kingdom upon Israel for ever. 14But now thy kingdom shall not continue: the LORD hath sought him a man after his own heart, and the LORD hath commanded him to be captain over his people, because thou hast not kept that which the LORD commanded thee.”

We should know in what kind of condion we are.. and that we cannot say what we tend to need or don’t need, Wait did Jesus said to the Church of Laodicea? Because thou sayest, I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing; and knowest not that thou art wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked: 18I counsel thee to buy of me gold tried in the fire, that thou mayest be rich; and white raiment, that thou mayest be clothed, and that the shame of thy nakedness do not appear; and anoint thine eyes with eyesalve, that thou mayest see. 19As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten: be zealous therefore, and repent.”

We should ask ourselves, can we wait to see true righteousness. Can we truly wait on the Lord? Just think about Daniel. He wanted to know what would happen in the future with Gods people, he prayed and waited on an answer of God. But did the answer to his prayer came immediately? NO… read with me in Daniel 10 from verse 12, “. 12Then said he unto me, Fear not, Daniel: for from the first day that thou didst set thine heart to understand, and to chasten thyself before thy God, thy words were heard, and I am come for thy words. 13But the prince of the kingdom of Persia withstood me one and twenty days: but, lo, Michael, one of the chief princes, came to help me; and I remained there with the kings of Persia. 14Now I am come to make thee understand what shall befall thy people in the latter days: for yet the vision is for many days.”

Daniel could hav said.. Lord I prayed, I studied, I have waited for three whole days know. you should give an answer NOW! But did Daniel do that.. NO. He believed the promises of God and waited for the answer God could only give.
Let’s go to the New Testament, Judas Isakariot. He was an important disciple, and we all know what eventually happened with him . But in human eyes Judas was important. He held the hand on the moneybox. And if you can do that you should have a say in where the money is going. In the most companies around the world is like this.

The CEO is important but business people know the should never underestimate the CFO. But Jesus did not adhere to human understandings of righteousness as defined by people born into sin. NO. Judas wanted to have a different kind of battle. The Battle against the Roman oppression. And because Jesus used the money to help the poor and sick, instead of building an army. Judas took matters into his own hands. He made sure Jesus was arrested by the High Priest. Judas took matters into his own hands and true freedom fighter would be put on the cross to die for our sins and shortcomings.

After Jesus was arrested in the Garden of Gethsemane. All the disciples feld, fearing persecution and arrest. And Peter (we know the story) and denied 3 times that he behold to the ‘gang’ who followed Christ. Peter was afraid what would happen with him if he truly told the truth!

The bible is clear what will happen in the last days with the true followers of Christ. With all ot them who follow after Christ righteousness, read with me in Revelation 13 from verse 13, “And he had power to give life unto the image of the beast, that the image of the beast should both speak, and cause that as many as would not worship the image of the beast should be killed. 16And he causeth all, both small and great, rich and poor, free and bond, to receive a mark in their right hand, or in their foreheads: 17And that no man might buy or sell, save he that had the mark, or the name of the beast, or the number of his name.”

John the revalator saw it in Vision, Jesus talked about it. If you follow Jesus, you WILL BE persecuted, will be in trouble, If you strive to follow righeousness in Christ, instead ot following your own senses or feelings. Troubles will come. But should we be afraid just as Peter was. NO, not at all.

Because Jesus told Peter just a couple of days earlier the following, In Luke 21 verse 12 the following; “But before all these, they shall lay their hands on you, and persecute you, delivering you up to the synagogues, and into prisons, being brought before kings and rulers for my name's sake. 13And it shall turn to you for a testimony. 14Settle it therefore in your hearts, not to meditate before what ye shall answer: 15For I will give you a mouth and wisdom, which all your adversaries shall not be able to gainsay nor resist. 16And ye shall be betrayed both by parents, and brethren, and kinsfolks, and friends; and some of you shall they cause to be put to death. 17And ye shall be hated of all men for my name's sake. 18But there shall not an hair of your head perish. 19In your patience possess ye your souls.”

We do not have to be afraid. There is one thing we should do! One that that we must seek after. “Seek ye the Kingdom of God, and all things shall be given unto you” Seek Christ’ righteousness. That which is not tainted by sin or unrighteousness. That is what really will set us free. Just as the prophet Zephinah said 3Seek ye the LORD, all ye meek of the earth, which have wrought his judgment; seek righteousness, seek meekness: it may be ye shall be hid in the day of the LORD'S anger.

Are we giving Jesus the ability in our lives to show what trough righteousness is and what it means. Here are show guide rules from the book of Romans, chapter 12 from vers 9
9Let love be without dissimulation. Abhor that which is evil; cleave to that which is good. 10Be kindly affectioned one to another with brotherly love; in honour preferring one another; 11Not slothful in business; fervent in spirit; serving the Lord; 12Rejoicing in hope; patient in tribulation; continuing instant in prayer; 13Distributing to the necessity of saints; given to hospitality.


Paul is saying to us, do NOT take matters into your own hands, but handle matters in a good way. Freedom is achieved to seek after righteousness, not to FIGHT against unrighteousness. The battle is the Lords, let Him fight our battles for us.

14Bless them which persecute you: bless, and curse not. 15Rejoice with them that do rejoice, and weep with them that weep. 16Be of the same mind one toward another. Mind not high things, but condescend to men of low estate. Be not wise in your own conceits. 17Recompense to no man evil for evil. Provide things honest in the sight of all men. 18If it be possible, as much as lieth in you, live peaceably with all men.

Do NOT take matters into your own hands… why….. 19Dearly beloved, avenge not yourselves, but rather give place unto wrath: for it is written, Vengeance is mine; I will repay, saith the Lord.

We should overcome evil by doing good. Don’t use the faulty tactics of Satan to achieve victory. But goto the true square of freedom, to experience and have true freedom.
Are you fighting ror your own justice of do you seek Chirst’ justice?!

Do you want true knowledge of God

DO you want to give a sacrifice that is worthy of God’s approval

Do you want to save in the loving care of Christ?

Do you want to wait on God?

Do you want to trust Christ purpose for your live?

Do you want to remain steadfast even when you might be persecuted for your faith?

Then go to the only and true square of victory.

And let Jesus take matters into HIS hands!

Because our freedom square is not placed in the city centre of Cairo, Amsterdam or New York. Our freedomsquare is place on the top of a hill named Golgotha. Is on the cross where Jesus died for our unrighteousness. It was there that Jesus showed that He can conquer dead and Sin. For He raised on the third day.

In the Heavenly Sanctuary is the place where Christ wants to show us. Where righteouness, true righteousness will eventually will lead us. Into life everlasting.

Trust Christ. For he will give us Freedom, Peace and true righteousness. Not only for this lifetime on this earth, but for all eternity. That is the freedom that I will seek and wait for.

1But thou, O man of God, flee these things; and follow after righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, meekness. 12Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life, whereunto thou art also called, and hast professed a good profession before many witnesses. 13I give thee charge in the sight of God, who quickeneth all things, and before Christ Jesus, who before Pontius Pilate witnessed a good confession; 14That thou keep this commandment without spot, unrebukeable, until the appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ: 15Which in his times he shall shew, who is the blessed and only Potentate, the King of kings, and Lord of lords; 16Who only hath immortality, dwelling in the light which no man can approach unto; whom no man hath seen, nor can see: to whom be honour and power everlasting.

Let Jesus take our matters into HIS hands.

Amen.