kingdom Martial Arts

Birth of the Every Day Warrior (KMA Lesson 2)

2009-03-09T11:18:00.000-07:00

1What causes quarrels and what causes fights among you? Is it not this, that your passions[a] are(A) at war within you?[b]

James 4:1

Yes, they are at war. In fact, if they are not at war than you need to sit back and evaluate whether you are even truly a believer. Sanctification is war. The Spirit is putting to death O' the wretched men we are. If there is no war, is there really sanctification? If there is no sanctification is there truly salvation? God chose us to be saved through sanctification by the Spirit (2 Thess 2:13). Indeed, God's will is our sanctification (1 Thess 4:3). The day you became a believer, you were enlisted into battle. From the day of your spiritual birth in Christ till the day Christ comes again, your spirit and flesh will be at war. Your spiritual birth is the birth of the every day warrior. It is an awakening to the realities of your sinfulness and God's righteousness. It is a battle we must fight every day. Every day we have to battle against our sinful desires. This war,, however, is not like any other war. This war has all ready been won. It's the kingdom vs. the world and Christ has all ready overcome the world. Now we know that if Christ has overcome the world than we too have overcome the world in Christ. Christ is the firstborn among many brothers and His brothers have also been predestined to be conformed to His image.

"29For those whom he(A) foreknew he also(B) predestined(C) to be conformed to the image of his Son, in order that he might be(D) the firstborn among many brothers. 30And those whom he predestined he also called, and those whom he called he also(E) justified, and those whom he justified he also(F) glorified."

Romans 8:29-30

We have been predestined, called, justified and glorified. So by this we know that

1. God predestined or ordained us to be brothers in Christ.

2. Because we were predestined, God then calls us with an irresistible calling.

3. In answering His call, we are justified or vindicated by Christ in accordance with the law of righteousness.

4. Being justified we are also then glorified in that we are now one with God. We are the light of the world.

If then we truly are the light of the world, we can not be overcome.

"In him was life,[a] and(G) the life was the light of men. 5(H) The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it. "

John 1:4

In Jesus was the Spirit of God, and the Spirit of God was the light of men. The Spirit of God shines in the world and the world has not overcome Him.

When the terms world and flesh are used in the bible, they, in most circumstances, are not meaning the earth and our skin. When it says in Romans 12, do not be conformed to this world, Paul is talking about the ways of this world not the world itself. When it says not to gratify the desires of the flesh, it is talking about our sinful nature. In John 1 when the term darkness is mentioned, the demonic powers of the devil and his army as well as the desires and ways of our own sinful nature are implied. This is the "world".

Now we can take comfort in knowing that world can not over come the Spirit of God. So if we share in God's Holy Spirit than we too are the light of the world. Matt 5:14 says plainly,

"You are the light of the world."

Christ is speaking of His elect in this passage. Those whom He predestined, called, justified and glorified. We are the light of the world and the darkness will not overcome the light. The world can not overcome us! We know that Christ has overcome the world all ready.

"In the world you will have tribulation, but take heart, I have overcome the world."

John 16:33

In fact, because of this:

"4For(A) everyone who has been born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world—(B) our faith. 5Who is it that overcomes the world except the one who believes(C) that Jesus is the Son of God?"

1 John 5:4-5

Our faith in Christ, who overcame the world, is our victory. And we know that God freely gives faith to those whom He has called. Our faith is given by God's grace. It is a measure of God's grace and not of our own power.

"8For(A) by grace you have been saved(B) through faith. And this is(C) not your own doing;(D) it is the gift of God, 9(E) not a result of works,(F) so that no one may boast. 10For(G) we are his workmanship,(H) created in Christ Jesus(I) for good works,(J) which God prepared beforehand,(K) that we should walk in them."

Ephesians 2:4-5

How comforting would it be to go to war knowing that with this one weapon you would surely win? What if this weapon didn't have to be earned? What if this weapon was given to you and in it being given you also knew that it could never be taken away from you? That is the faith that God gives us. It is irresistable! Yes, we are in a war but we have faith! Faith is our victory!

Once again we are not fighting the physical world.

"12For(A) we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against(B) the rulers, against the authorities, against(C) the cosmic powers over(D) this present darkness, against(E) the spiritual forces of evil(F) in the heavenly places."

Ephesians 6:12

We are fighting with the evil desires and passions that are aroused by the darkness of this world. In the Spirit, our desire is to glorify God but in the flesh we want to glorify self and satisfy our selfish desires.

"14For we know that the law is spiritual, but I am of the flesh,(A) sold under sin. 15For I do not understand my own actions. For(B) I do not do what I want, but I do the very thing I hate. 16Now if I do what I do not want, I agree with(C) the law, that it is good. 17So now(D) it is no longer I who do it, but sin that dwells within me. 18For I know that nothing good dwells(E) in me, that is, in my flesh. For I have the desire to do what is right, but not the ability to carry it out. 19(F) For I do not do the good I want, but the evil I do not want is what I keep on doing. 20Now if I do what I do not want,(G) it is no longer I who do it, but sin that dwells within me.
21So I find it to be a law that when I want to do right, evil lies close at hand. 22For(H) I delight in the law of God,(I) in my inner being, 23but I see in my members(J) another law waging war against the law of my mind and making me captive to the law of sin that dwells in my members. 24Wretched man that I am! Who will deliver me from(K) this body of death? 25Thanks be to God through Jesus Christ our Lord! So then, I myself serve the law of God with my mind, but with my flesh I serve the law of sin.

Roman 7:14-25

"17For(A) the desires of the flesh are against the Spirit, and the desires of the Spirit are against the flesh, for these are opposed to each other,(B) to keep you from doing the things you want to do."

Galatians 5:17

These two are opposed to each other. The flesh (or sinful nature) and the Spirit are at war! Every day we face this war. We have to fight each and every day to walk in the Spirit. Again we can have confidence that God not only has justified us through faith but also empowers us to live in faith. To walk in the Spirit is to walk by faith.

"For we walk by faith and not by sight."

2 Corinthians 5:7

We must pray to God that He will give us the strength to walk in the His Spirit.

"If we live by the Spirit, let us also walk by the Spirit."

Eph 5:25

If indeed we walk by the Spirit, we will not gratify the desire of the flesh (Eph 5:16). We are God's beloved and He has given us His Spirit as a guarantee and seal of our salvation (Eph 1:13-14). This war that we are in is God's blessing of sanctification. We are blessed to face these trials in life because we know that God is purifying us through them. Are you in a war? You should be. One of the marks of the samurai was there courage and bravery. To run was cowardly and humiliating. We must be brave and step up to the challenges of life that leave us vulnerable. If we are God's children created in His image, than we are warrior's because,

"The Lord is a warrior, the Lord is His name."

Exodus 15:3

Warriors who live by the warrior code can not be cowards and indeed we do have a code. The Christian Bushido is the fruit of the Spirit and we can only produce this fruit, if we are walking in the Spirit. We must be brave and fight the good fight of faith like Godly men every single day!

11Beloved, I urge you(A) as sojourners and exiles(B) to abstain from the passions of the flesh,(C) which wage war against your soul.

1 Peter 2:11

Way of the Warrior (KMA Lesson 1)

2009-02-20T08:25:00.000-08:00

Martial arts were developed thousands of years ago for the purpose of battle. Martial arts were and are still practiced in the military to give the soldiers an edge on the battlefield. The root of Martial arts is war. In the time of the Samurai, normal citizens used to fear the Samurai because they viewed them as killing machines. For this reason the Samurai developed a moral code that they would follow in order to stand out as honorable people. This code became a part of the Samurai life style and the Samurai spirit. This code was known as the bushido (Way of the Warrior). Here are the seven main virtues of the bushido code.

Gi (rectitude) morality, integrity
Yū (courage) bravery, valor
Jin (Benevolence) kindness, compassion
Rei (respect) reverence
Makoto (honesty) sincerity
Meiyo (honor, glory) nobility
Chūgi (loyalty) faithfulness, devotion, trustworthiness

Sometimes added to these were:

Kō (filial piety) love and respect for parents and ancestors
Chi (wisdom) insight
Tei (caring for the elderly)

All though I don't follow the bushido as the samurai created it, or necessarily for the reasons they created it I do think that we as Christians can learn a lot from the concept of the bushido. In a sense it is 100% biblical when transferred to Christ and His kingdom. The samurai were warriors in service of their own lord. What their lord said, they did. The bushisdo trained them to be loyal ,faithful and devoted to their lord, families and country. I remember a quote from "The Last Samurai" when after the village was attacked and the ninja tried to kill the Shogun, the Shogun was later asked, "Do you think that the lord sent them to kill you?". The Shogun then replied, "If the lord wants my life, all he has to do is ask.". I don't think I have that word for word but it's the idea that matters. What their lord commanded, they followed through. In fact, this runs parallel with the scriptures.

"Whoever finds his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life for My sake will find it."

Matt 10:39

"By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God and keep His commandments. For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments."

1 John 5:2-3

The Samurai understood the mentality of a warrior. A warrior is a servant. They did not use their ability to fight to bully others or as a reason to boast. They used it for the service of their lord, families and country. In order to keep such a mind set it was necessary for them to create the bushido which stated the manor in which a warrior should live.

Now we as Christians first have to recognize that we have a Lord. In fact, He is the King of kings and the Lord of lords! Our Lord has spoken much about His Kingdom (our country) and indeed commands us to serve Him and His Kingdom (our families and God's people). We are called to seek first the Kingdom of God and His righteousness. That means in all you do, do it in a way that glorifies God and advances His Kingdom. The Kingdom of God is both here now and is still coming.

20Being asked by the Pharisees(A) when the kingdom of God would come, he answered them, "The kingdom of God(B) is not coming with signs to be observed, 21nor(C) will they say, 'Look, here it is!' or 'There!' for behold, the kingdom of God is in the midst of you."[a

Luke 17:20-21

The kingdom of God has all ready come in His Holy Spirit. Yes, the heavenly kingdom of God has all ready begun making it's way here on earth! Heaven literally is a place on earth through God's Holy Spirit! Immanuel! God with us is all ready a reality. We are not going to die, leave earth forever and live in heaven. In the end God will destroy both heaven and earth and create a new heaven and a new earth that are one. Our greatest hope is not to die and go be with God in heaven but to live till the day that both God and heaven come to be with us. Immanuel! God with us.

1Then I saw(A) a new heaven and a new earth, for(B) the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and the sea was no more. 2And I saw(C) the holy city,(D) new Jerusalem,(E) coming down out of heaven from God,(F) prepared(G) as a bride adorned for her husband. 3And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, "Behold,(H) the dwelling place[a] of God is with man. He will(I) dwell with them, and they will be his people,[b] and God himself will be with them as their God.[c] 4(J) He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and(K) death shall be no more,(L) neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away."

Rev. 21:1-4

Indeed the kingdom of God is all ready in the midst of us. John the Baptist's famous words were, REPENT! For the kingdom of God is at hand!!! We must realize this. God is on His way to live and dwell with us forever! Are you living as if this is a reality? Are you serving your Lord who died and rose again so that you may live? Or do you just simply believe? It is not enough to believe...faith without works is dead! (James 2:26). REPENT! Be transformed. Do not be conformed to this world but be transformed by the renewal of your mind. (Romans 12:2)
Are you living according to the Christian bushido?

Love
Joy
Peace
Patience
Kindness
Goodness
Gentleness
Faithfulness
and Self-Control

If we live by the Spirit let us also walk by the Spirit! (Galatians 5:25)

We can only produce the fruit of the Spirit by the Spirit. If we indeed do live in the Spirit, let us also walk in Him!

1(A) If then you have been raised with Christ, seek(B) the things that are above, where Christ is,(C) seated at the right hand of God. 2(D) Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth. 3For(E) you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. 4When Christ(F) who is your[a] life(G) appears, then you also will appear with him(H) in glory. 5(I) Put to death therefore(J) what is earthly in you:[b](K) sexual immorality, impurity,(L) passion, evil desire, and covetousness,(M) which is idolatry. 6(N) On account of these the wrath of God is coming.[c] 7(O) In these you too once walked, when you were living in them. 8But now(P) you must put them all away:(Q) anger, wrath, malice,(R) slander, and obscene talk from your mouth. 9(S) Do not lie to one another, seeing that(T) you have put off(U) the old self[d] with its practices 10and(V) have put on(W) the new self,(X) which is being renewed in knowledge(Y) after the image of(Z) its creator. 11(AA) Here there is not Greek and Jew, circumcised and uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave,[e] free; but Christ is(AB) all, and in all.
12(AC) Put on then, as(AD) God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved,(AE) compassionate hearts,(AF) kindness,(AG) humility, meekness, and patience, 13(AH) bearing with one another and,(AI) if one has a complaint against another,(AJ) forgiving each other; as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive. 14And above all these put on(AK) love, which(AL) binds everything together in(AM) perfect harmony. 15And let(AN) the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called(AO) in one body. And(AP) be thankful. 16Let(AQ) the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom,(AR) singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs,(AS) with thankfulness in your hearts to God. 17And(AT) whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus,(AU) giving thanks to God the Father through him.

Colossians 3:1-17

This is the way of the Christian warrior. The true bushido is the way in Christ! Not the way of Christ but the way in Him. We are not simply trying to live like Christ but we are to live in Christ, in His Holy Spirit. For after all... to live is Christ! (Philippians 1:21) We need to honor our Lord and fight the good fight of faith. Do not be overcome by evil but overcome evil with good. (Romans 12:21)
Only in Christ my friends. Only in Christ is this possible. Indeed he has all ready done it.

"In the world you will have(C) tribulation. But(D) take heart;(E) I have overcome the world."

John 16:33