No More Walls...What Came Out of Dallas

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... for he himself is our peace, who made both groups into one and broke down the barrier of the dividing wall...Ephesians 2:14

I woke up this morning with a profound sense of sadness. I had found out last night that three officers had been slain in an ambush in Baton Rouge Louisiana. This tragedy affects me personally as I am from Louisiana. I attended college at Louisiana State University. My heart was grieved and sadened. All I could do was pray for God's comfort to be up on the families involved. I pray for both the families of the police officers as well as for the gunmen that have been slain.

Baton Rouge is a part of an ongoing pattern of violence that we have seen grip Minneapolis St. Paul Minnesota, Dallas Texas, and now Baton Rouge Louisiana. In my sadness the Holy Spirit said it will get much worse.

But there seem to be some encouragement coming out of Dallas. Two groups of protesters a few days ago were on opposite sides of the street. One group protesting black lives matter. The other one protesting all lives matter. For some reason known only to God to representatives of each group met in the middle of the street. Something known only to God they began to shake hands and hug one another. Then the representatives of each of the groups begin to go to the middle of the street. And then they begin to pray with one another. Whether this was of God or whether it was self orchestrated. I don't know. I prefer to think that there were believers in both groups that heard the spirit to come together and pray. The officer that was trying to keep both groups together wound up praying with one another.

The video can be googled. It is a short video. But very encouraging with the hate that is going around.

Saints,

we should not be alarmed by increased violence world-wide as it can speak of the spirit of the age and what our Lord said:

Matthew 24:37-39 New International Version (NIV)

37 As it was in the days of Noah, so it will be at the coming of the Son of Man. 38 For in the days before the flood, people were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, up to the day Noah entered the ark; 39 and they knew nothing about what would happen until the flood came and took them all away. That is how it will be at the coming of the Son of Man.

Genesis 6:5 New International Version (NIV)

5 The Lord saw how great the wickedness of the human race had become on the earth, and that every inclination of the thoughts of the human heart was only evil all the time.

Genesis 6:11-12 New International Version (NIV)

11 Now the earth was corrupt in God’s sight and was full of violence. 12 God saw how corrupt the earth had become, for all the people on earth had corrupted their ways.

Saints we need to pray the cross. As I think on the tragedies and the Divide that's coming out of these cities the cross comes to mind. The only color that Jesus sees is his own blood which is crimson. God does not see white or black. But God sees the heart that's covered with the Crimson blood of Jesus Christ.

What is taking place in these various cities is a heart matter. Hearts are given over to hatred. The seeds of hatred are planted by Satan. We must pray that hearts beat turn to the Lord Jesus Christ and be change from hate the hearts of love. We must pray the cross.

It is said that all ground is level at the cross. We quote the verses in Galatians that say there is neither Jew nor Greek, slave nor free, male nor female but all are one in Christ Jesus. I would also add there's neither black nor White. But all are one in Christ Jesus.

Indeed may we pray for true racial healing to come from only that which the cross of Jesus Christ will provide.

My thiughts.

So agree my brother. So agree. May God have mercy on us. May he comfort those that have been impacted by these tragedies.

Blaine

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... Therefore whoever resists authority has opposed the ordinance of God; and they who have opposed will receive condemnation upon themselves...Romans 13:2

Earlier today another sister and I were speaking about the tragedy that had occurred in Baton Rouge. This sister offered a very profound insight regarding the tragedy. She said that those who were targeting the police officers were resisting authority. They were resisting God's authority. The sister went on to make the profound insight that this is symptomatic of our nation resisting overall, the authority of God.

As I pondered her insight I began to realize that this is true. What we are reaping is the rejection of God in our society. But does not judgment begins with the household of God. Could it be that the church also is rejecting the authority of God. Something to ponder.

I have been on some prayer calls that have cried out revival for this nation. For the most part most of these call consist of caucasian intercessors. The question that occurs to my heart and mind is where are the African-American intercessors? For that matter where are the black and white pastors that are coming together and praying saying not on our watch? Where are the black-and-white intercessors coming together as brothers and sisters in Christ and praying healing at the cross of Jesus Christ with his racial divide that we are experiencing?

Maybe prayer initiatives are taking place and I'm certainly not aware of everything that goes on in the kingdom of God. I certainly pray the black and white brothers and sisters are coming together to pray over these tragedies that are taking place.

Simply my thoughts.

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There will be those who will say that because of the tragedies that took place in Baton Rouge and Dallas we must cry out for revival. I can understand their heart cry. But I wonder. Have we gone past the point of no return. Can we really expect for God to pour out his Spirit on a nation and a church that has rejected His authority. Can we truly expect to see a third Great Awakening.

For sure our hope has to be in Jesus. For sure our hope has to be in the cross of Christ. For sure our hope has to be in the gospel of Jesus Christ. But it seems that God may deal individually with those who cry out to him, what must I do to be saved.

Just some thoughts.

Are the tragedies in Baton Rouge and Dallas part of a bigger picture? Are they signs of God's judgment upon this nation? Will our prayers really change the outcome of what God maybe bringing against this nation?

More questions. Very few answers. But then Jesus is the answer.

Simply my thoughts.

One of the officers ambushed in Baton Rouge was African-American.

Bro I wasn't disputing your post. Simply added the fact that one of the officers slain in Baton Rouge was African-American. That's all Just FYI.

I do agree. I think that perhaps the current generation of police are not receiving adequate training. This may be due to the result that cities are cutting back first esponder services. And that probably includes police training.

Just my thoughts.

One thing that has been suggested is that police should be mandated to wear body cams. I believe if the officer in Minnesota had a body cam. A lot of discrepancies would be cleared up. And cities would probably save on having to pay out damage costs and lawsuits.

Again just my thoughts.

oh brother Blaine, it seemed this whole last weekend...nay....prior week, was just replete with such murderous demonic wickedness, that one's very soul feels crushed at times.

whether it was the horror on the promenade at Nice, or the shooting of that innocent brother in Minn, or the murder's of those dear police in Dallas, Baton Rouge....and then God only knows the REAL story of the "coup attempt" in Turkey, that was a true nightmare, I hooked into a live feed from a cam overlooking the Bosphorous Bridge in Instanbul, and I know weaponry, and it was just an outright hellish gun battle...ADMIDST thousands of civilians.

I don't mean to go on and on, but I found that every breath of mine, was a prayer, just pleading "shalom, shalom, shalom".

Amen that we are NOT of the world, but we are in it, and a fell cruel wind does blow, ALL we have left is prayer, and our most Holy Faith....and the Blood that cleanses, Praise the Name above all names...Jesus.....

I love this verse!

"Therefore, holy brothers, you who share in a heavenly calling, consider Jesus, the apostle and high priest of our confession" Hebrews 3 and 1 (ESV)

God love you Bear, neil