2220AFC052022 – I got Subpoenaed
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John 14:27 – 27 Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled, and do not let them be afraid.
Aloha nui loa, ʻŌmea! Grace and Peace to each of you from God our Father and our Lord, Jesus the Christ, in the Power of the Holy Spirit. I’ve hinted recently that the last few posts have been “part of an unnamed series.” I still don’t know the name, but I now see the parts:
1: Follow the leader
2: Read the instructions
3: Do the right thing
4: Give God the Glory
I suppose we could call that Series “Living The Christian Life.” Whatever we call it, one thing is sure: We can find all the guidance we need in the B.I.B.L.E. Living as a Christian means letting go of a lot of false assumptions. Jesus himself told us it wouldn’t be easy, there would be persecutions, friends and family would turn against us, and we might be called on to suffer martyrdom in some form. In fact, that’s how today’s title came up. Each of us who claims to be Christian has been subpoenaed to witness for the Defense. The Prosecutor is that Old Rascal Satan. Before we get much farther in this, let’s look at the meaning of that word, “subpoena.”
Quoting from the website: “A subpoena (↔ Click Link) is a legal document that commands a person or entity to testify as a witness at a specified time and place (at a deposition, trial, or other hearing), and/or to produce documents or other tangible objects in a legal proceeding. Subpoenas are time-sensitive with court-imposed deadlines.” Well, that nails it down well enough. A legal document could be a set of rules or laws that prescribe certain actions, attitudes, and/or appeals by a higher authority. A legal document like that could be used to demand that we testify as a witness. You’ll remember, I hope, that testify and witness are associated with the Greek word marturion. Marturion is the root of our word martyr. We discussed that at length in 1646AFC111116 – Can I get a Witness? I encourage you to look into that if you feel inclined to branch out a bit. Today, though, I want to look into the role of that Prosecuting Attorney. I have no reluctance to say I don’t like him one little bit, and he sure doesn’t like me, either! Boy howdy, he sure has gotten me in a lot of trouble. And that statement right there is a sample of the trouble that comes from witnessing. Satan doesn’t get me in trouble – I do! Flip Wilson’s character “Geraldine” always claimed, “The Devil made me do it.” Nope. That’s not how it works. Here’s a longish passage from the Letter of James: James 4:1-7 – 1 Those conflicts and disputes among you, where do they come from? Do they not come from your cravings that are at war within you? 2 You want something and do not have it; so you commit murder. And you covet something and cannot obtain it; so you engage in disputes and conflicts. You do not have, because you do not ask. 3 You ask and do not receive, because you ask wrongly, in order to spend what you get on your pleasures. 4 Adulterers! Do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity with God? Therefore whoever wishes to be a friend of the world becomes an enemy of God. 5 Or do you suppose that it is for nothing that the scripture says, “God yearns jealously for the spirit that he has made to dwell in us”? 6 But he gives all the more grace; therefore it says,
“God opposes the proud,
but gives grace to the humble.”
7 Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.
If we resist the Devil, we will be speaking the Truth. If we are speaking the Truth, we will be witnessing. If we are a Witness for Christ, we will face persecutions, trials, and tribulations during multiple full-orbit circles around the sun – BUT the retirement plan is literally out of this world! Our days will be filled with sunshine sometimes, but every moment of every day (↔ Music Link), we will experience Son Shine. OR, we can just stay in the dark, and suffer needlessly without God’s Mercy. It is up to us to choose. God gives us that right, the privilege to choose the Light or The Dark. It’s not “THE FORCE” we choose. It is our Creator, our God, our Friend, our Companion, our BROTHER we choose. As I often say, “Why would we want anything less?!?!?” All we need to do is witness to Christ, stand up to the Accuser, and give it our all – and Peace will arise in our hearts and minds.
In this Key Verse passage, Jesus is saying goodbye. It is goodbye to the constraints of his human body, goodbye to his followers, shalom and welcome to his perfect obedience to his Father. He knows and sees what lies just a few hours ahead, and still he ministers and shares fellowship with those sitting at table with him. The Peace that he gives is the Peace in which he rests, and that Peace is the equilibrium of all of terror and rescue, sin and mercy, and obedience unto death. Jesus’ own True Peace he freely gives to us, “not as the world gives,” but with “no strings attached.” It is the Peace of innocence, the Peace of Understanding – it is the Peace of God restored to us through Jesus’ willing sacrifice of himself for us. It is the Peace that is possible only in Love, and Jesus empties his human life as a renewal of his Divine Life in the presence of the Trinity. That same Peace is with and in all who accept it. Once we accept it, we too are transformed so that we are able to pour out our own human life in anticipation or our own Resurrected Life as our eternal reward.
We “own” that Peace that surpasses all understanding. The Apostle Paul tells us about the effect of that assurance we find in conquering our fear in Philippians 4:6-7 – 6 Do not worry about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. 7 And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. The Apostle is telling us exactly what Jesus told us: Don’t be afraid. Trust in his Love. Be thankful for God’s Gifts. He will always be with us. When we know that, truly and deeply know, that Jesus’ words are completely True and his promises belong to us, we begin to live a life of testimony. We are witnesses. We are witnesses who are subpoenaed to answer for and defend our Faith in Christ Jesus. The Accuser can rant about our sinfulness or cunningly try to smooth-talk his accusations against us, but we have an Advocate who defends our testimony and defeats Satan’s most diabolical maneuvers to try to make us selfishly disobey.
Disobedience and selfishness can never gain victory over obedience and charity. Humility always defeats pride. Kindness always defeats envy. Diligence always defeats apathy. Jesus defends us, the Spirit counsels and protects us. Recall what the Apostle Paul said in Romans 8:33-35, 37b – 33 Who will bring a charge against God’s elect people? It is God who acquits them. 34 Who is going to convict them? It is Christ Jesus who died, even more, who was raised, and who also is at God’s right side. It is Christ Jesus who also pleads our case for us.
35 Who will separate us from Christ’s love? Will we be separated by trouble, or distress, or harassment, or famine, or nakedness, or danger, or sword? 37 No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. (Common English Bible (CEB) Copyright © 2011 by Common English Bible) It is Christ Jesus who willingly and completely satisfied the wages of sin once for all. We testify to that Truth when we willingly and completely live in his Love which commands that we Love (agapate) God and neighbor as he – Jesus – Loves God and neighbor. We can, and will, testify to “the Truth, the whole Truth, and nothing but the Truth.”
Now this next point seems almost ironic to me, but when I reflect on this subpoena to give testimony we have been given, it is the Bible that calls us to testify and – much to the annoyance of the Prosecutor – it is that same Bible wherein we find the means of our defense. Every Truth that Satan tries to disparage and ridicule is contained in and supported by Scripture. His attempts to charm and disarm us always backfire if we stay True to the Word. Our testimony is sure, our defense in impeccable, and his defeat is certain. The problem is, he just doesn’t know when to quit. I suspect that’s because he knows he can never stay ahead even if he “gets the upper hand” sometimes. God’s total and Everlasting Love is always victorious. As The Apostle Peter put it in 1 Peter 4:8 – 8 Above all, maintain constant love for one another, for love covers a multitude of sins. When our daily lives show, moment to moment, the scope and power and effect of the Love of God in Christ Jesus, our testimony will lead to all charges against us being dismissed for lack of evidence. Our sins, as they are forgiven, are remembered no more. That is the Truth, and the Truth will set us free.
Here is Jesus’ own TRUE promise of that Truth: John 8:31b-32 – 31 … “If you continue in my word, you are truly my disciples; 32 and you will know the truth, and the truth will make you free.” Here’s how Jesus followed up on that: John 12:48-49 – 48 The one who rejects me and does not receive my word has a judge; on the last day the word that I have spoken will serve as judge, 49 for I have not spoken on my own, but the Father who sent me has himself given me a commandment about what to say and what to speak. And – as Disciples – we are commanded to say and speak whatever The Word says. What will be the affect of our testifying and prophesying (speaking on God’s behalf) to those who have not believed? There’s a good example in 1 Corinthians 14:24-25 – 24 But if all prophesy, an unbeliever or outsider who enters is reproved by all and called to account by all. 25 After the secrets of the unbeliever’s heart are disclosed, that person will bow down before God and worship him, declaring, “God is really among you.” (↔ Music Link) The Lord is asking us “Can I get a Witness?” (↔ Click Link) Our subpoenas have been served. Will we comply? Whenever we do, we assist the Holy Spirit in applying the Law of Love. Christ willingly entered into his sacrifice. If we follow him, we have to go where he goes. Who will be next to willingly sacrifice her/his own will to the Will of the Father? I got subpoenaed. Did you? If so, we may have some tough choices to make about our testimony. Through those choices we will Give God The Glory. Alleluia! Amen! There is Joy, Joy, Joy, Joy down in my heart! (↔ Music Link)
“Do not let your hearts be troubled, and do not let them be afraid.”
Whatever, whenever, wherever, whoever, however, if ever, forever —
at your service, Belovéd!
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Unless otherwise indicated, all scripture passages are from the New Revised Standard Version Catholic Edition (NRSVCE) New Revised Standard Version Bible: Catholic Edition, copyright © 1989, 1993 the Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
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