Put on Garments of Vengeance

A Shaking Should Lead to a Waking

"For they are a nation void of counsel, neither is there any understanding in them. O that they were wise, that they understood this, that they would consider their latter end! How should one chase a thousand, and two put ten thousand to flight, except their Rock had sold them, and the LORD had shut them up? For their rock is not as our Rock, even our enemies themselves being judges. 

For their vine is of the vine of Sodom, and of the fields of Gomorrah: their grapes are grapes of gall, their clusters are bitter: Their wine is the poison of dragons, and the cruel venom of asps. Is not this laid up in store with me, and sealed up among my treasures? To me belongeth vengeance, and recompence; their foot shall slide in due time: for the day of their calamity is at hand, and the things that shall come upon them make haste. For the LORD shall judge his people, and repent himself for his servants, when he seeth that their power is gone, and there is none shut up, or left. 

And he shall say, Where are their gods, their rock in whom they trusted, Which did eat the fat of their sacrifices, and drank the wine of their drink offerings? Let them rise up and help you, and be your protection. See now that I, even I, am he, and there is no god with me: I kill, and I make alive; I wound, and I heal: neither is there any that can deliver out of my hand. For I lift up my hand to heaven, and say, I live for ever. If I whet my glittering sword, and mine hand take hold on judgment; I will render vengeance to mine enemies, and will reward them that hate me. I will make mine arrows drunk with blood, and my sword shall devour flesh; and that with the blood of the slain and of the captives, from the beginning of revenges upon the enemy. 

Rejoice, O ye nations, with his people: for he will avenge the blood of his servants, and will render vengeance to his adversaries, and will be merciful unto his land, and to his people." Deuteronomy 32:38-43

In the wake of the recent tragedies such as the shootings at Sandy Hook, many ask why this is happening and where is God.  Yet, amazing as it may be to think, this too will soon become a distant memory and life will resume as "normal" for many.  Some might call this return to normalcy God's mercy as He enables us to cope with what has happened.  However, is it?  What if our "normal" was a life devoid of God and with no thought to His will and His way?  What if "normal" was a life filled with lots of religious activity, but with the majority of hearts being far away from God?  What if God lets such things happen in order to shake us from "normal" and wake us from a spiritual stupor?

Much blame belongs to the Church for the current state of the world, for she has largely neglected her position to be light and salt in the earth.  She has merged with Babylon, where it has become hard to even tell the difference between the two.  As a result, it seems as if her "power is gone" and she is ravaged by the enemy.  However, she has not been abandoned.

We are often quick to blame the devil, and it is sure his handiwork to "steal, kill, and destroy" (John 10:10).  Yet, Satan is only allowed to do what God permits and the Lord will often use the hand of the enemy to bring judgment.  There is a saying: "Satan is busy"...and he is; but so is God.  When we look to how God dealt with Israel, we can see that in times of their idolatry, God would often let their enemies take them into captivity.  When the oppressor's bondage caused His people to cry out in repentance for deliverance, God would then take the oppressed and use them as His battle axe to wield vengeance on those same enemies (Jeremiah 51:20-24).

Let me restate that; the very enemies God uses to chasten His people are the ones God empowers His people to triumph over once they have been restored in Him.  The oppressed become the vessels of God's vengeance...but the turning point is repentance (II Chronicles 7:14; II Corinthians 10:6).

It is time out for us asking God to bless the Church; the Church must first start to truly honor God.  If God's people will turn to Him in zealous repentance, He will answer.  He will equip us to stand and empower us to exact revenge on our oppressors: Satan and all his demon minions.

"For he put on righteousness as a breastplate, and an helmet of salvation upon his head; and he put on the garments of vengeance for clothing, and was clad with zeal as a cloke. According to their deeds, accordingly he will repay, fury to his adversaries, recompence to his enemies; to the islands he will repay recompence."  Isaiah 59:17-18

It is time to put on "the garments of vengeance" as we prepare to stand in these last days against the work of the evil one.  Bring forth sacrifices of praise, prayer, and fasting to be spiritually strengthened and filled with God's Spirit.  As the pace of evil picks up (and it will), don't look for an escape in the things of the world.  If there is any part of us which still has an affinity for fantasy, Satan will surely provide it (sports, jobs, entertainment, holidays, etc.).  Now more than ever God's people need to have eyes that are single and be girded for war; launching spiritual weapons against all forms of wickedness in the Heavenlies so that others may be set free (Ephesians 6:12).  People's eternal lives are at stake as Satan goes on a rampage to destroy all that he can. 

"For I have no pleasure in the death of him that dieth, saith the Lord GOD: wherefore turn yourselves, and live ye." Ezekiel 18:32

Are you moved to compassion for those being destroyed?  Then let's not just talk about the war and analyze it from a distance.  Become engaged.  Enlist and strap on your boots.  Ask the Lord to break the shackles of Babylon off of your mind so that you can help to free others.   The voice of the Lord asks, "Whom shall I send, and who will go for us?" Will you say, "Here am I; send me."?  This is where the rubber meets the road.  If God has given you wisdom to perceive the times in which we live, then He is calling upon you to step up for service.  Be filled with the Holy Spirit & power so as not to become a casualty of war.

"Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness; And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace; Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked. And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God." Ephesians 6:14