Contend or Flee

Ju Jitsu has Japanese origins. It can be translated as the “gentle art.” Ju Jitsu was originally taught alongside weapons training so that if weapons were lost or broken in battle, the warrior was still not quite unarmed. When you begin training in this field, one always learns the basics. The foundation to this art is your “base.”

In 2 Peter 3:15-18, Peter brings a warning.

“And account that the longsuffering of our Lord is salvation; even as our beloved brother Paul also, according to the wisdom given unto him, hath written to you; As also in all his epistles, speaking in them of these things; in which are some things hard to be understood, which they that are unlearned and unstable wrest, as they do also the other Scriptures, unto their own destruction. Ye, therefore, beloved, seeing ye know these things before, beware lest ye also, being led away with the error of the wicked, fall from your own stedfastness. But grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To Him be glory both now and forever, Amen.”

It is interesting how Peter tells us how Paul’s writings are quite "hard to understand" for those who are 1. unlearned and 2. unstable wrest. Let’s take a look at the Greek meanings of those words:

• Unlearned: Strong’s #261- amathēs – ignorant
• Unstable: Strong’s #793 – astēriktŏs – unfixed, vascillating
• Wrest: Strong’s #4761 – strěblŏō – from #4762 (strengthened from the base of turning; twist, turn quite around or reverse; convert back) to strain or wrench back, to torture

When we fall from our own instability we are being led away, pushed down, or knocked off of our foundational base. How does this happen? Those who are set fast, are fixed, and strengthened. They are not moved because they have found their base.

1 Peter 5:6-10 says, “Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you in due time: Casting all your care upon Him; for He careth for you, Be sober, be vigilant (watch); because your adversary, the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about seeking whom he may devour: Whom resist stedfast in the faith, knowing that the same afflictions are accomplished in your brethren that are in the world. But the God of all grace, Who hath called us unto His eternal glory by Christ, after that ye have suffered a while, He Himself will perfect you, stablish, strengthen, settle you.”

The warrior perfects and establishes his base in the midst of sufferings. When the enemy attacks from the left, he adjusts; a swift move from behind, he adjusts; a right flank, he adjusts and finds his base again. The warrior has been perfected by His Father, established in Truth, strengthened in His Ways, and settled onto a firm foundation that will not be moved.

2 Samuel 22:22-27:
“For I have kept the ways of the Lord, and have not wickedly departed from my God. For all His judgments (to set upright) were before me: And as for His statutes (to cut in or inscribe), I did not depart from them. I was also upright before Him, and have kept myself from mine iniquity. Therefore the LORD hath recompensed me according to my righteousness; according to my cleanness in His eye sight. With the merciful Thou wilt shew Thyself merciful (gracious), and with the upright (blameless) man Thou wilt shew Thyself upright. With the pure Thou wilt shew Thyself pure; and with the froward (perverse) Thou wilt shew Thyself unsavoury (show thyself ready to contend or wrestler)”

Our adversary, the principalities that rule our world, all seek out to destroy and kill. Peter warned us to be on guard against those who come to knock us off our base. Are you firmly fitted with your feet? When the enemy attacks with false doctrine, will you be pushed to the side or will you be settled into your base? When he has taken your sword, will you be able to contend and put him into submission? Arrows of shame, greed, hate, pornography, selfishness, busyness, depression are constantly being launched on every side of your armor. Show yourself ready! Be BOLD and be STRONG for the Lord your God is with you. He fights for you and settles your feet onto a solid rock that will not be moved. Show the enemy you are a contender and are skilled in the gentle art of submission found in The Name of Yahweh! Fight for what is Truth and always…find your base.

Be BOLD and be STRONG... arrows to the enemy! ❤️ @sending-arrows