Monday, March 30, 2009

The Cloak of Zeal and Garments of Vengeance

It's interesting that when Paul admonishes the church to put on the whole armor of God, he leaves out two items.

Paul was no doubt drawing his analogy from Isaiah 59:17 which reads, "For He put on righteousness as a breastplate, and a helmet of salvation on His head; He put on the garments of vengeance for clothing, and was clad with zeal as a cloak."

So we see here two of the articles which Paul used in referring to the Armor of God, namely, the breastplate of righteousness and the helmet of salvation.

But there are two additional articles that Paul didn't include: the garments of vengeance and the cloak of zeal.

Now we know that vengeance belongs to the Lord (Deut. 32:35, Heb. 10:30, Rom. 12:19) so that explains why the garments of vengeance are not ours to wear, but Christ's alone.

But we as Christians are commanded by Christ to put on the cloak of zeal!

Revelation 3:19, "As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten. Therefore be zealous and repent."

Galatians 4:18, "But it is good to be zealous in a good thing always, and not only when I am present with you."

Titus 2:14, "who gave Himself for us, that He might redeem us from every lawless deed and purify for Himself His own special people, zealous for good works."

But there's another side to zeal...a darker side. Perhaps Paul, wanting to keep on the safe side, left out the cloak of zeal because of it's counterpart, the cloak of ignorant zeal. About this dangerous form of zeal, with which he was sadly very familiar, Paul writes:

Acts 22:3,4, "I am indeed a Jew, born in Tarsus of Cilicia, but brought up in this city at the feet of Gamaliel, taught according to the strictness of our fathers’ law, and was zealous toward God as you all are today. I persecuted this Way to the death, binding and delivering into prisons both men and women,"

Romans 10:2, "For I bear them witness that they have a zeal for God, but not according to knowledge."

Galatians 1:14, "And I advanced in Judaism beyond many of my contemporaries in my own nation, being more exceedingly zealous for the traditions of my fathers."

So, Christians, when putting on the Armor of God, don't forget your cloak of zeal! But be sure it's a zeal according to knowledge.

15 comments:

  1. That is so true of all the pieces of armor. For every genuine there is at least one counterfeit (usually many).

    I am planning to share the armor this weekend with a group of junior age so I appreciate these insights.

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  2. Yeah that's a good point...all the pieces can be counterfeited by satan. Good post topic. As always, it was my pleasure to share, and I thoroughly enjoy your comments.

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  3. I like this informative post. its really too good thanks for sharing us.

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  4. Ur welcome. Thanx for the comment, qc in china.

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  5. A comment about this statement:
    Now we know that vengeance belongs to the Lord (Deut. 32:35, Heb. 10:30, Rom. 12:19) so that explains why the garments of vengeance are not ours to wear, but Christ's alone.
    PASSAGEMAN:

    I would have to disagree with this author. In reference to fighting the enemy of darkness we are to wear the garments of vengeance. The armor of God is not for fighting flesh but unclean spirits. In this light, please place and move in the "full armor" of God - His completeness of every device of God including vengeance against evil forces as the Lord leads.

    Blessings of His Victory to you, Tom S. passageman7@yahoo.com

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    1. Vengeance belongs to the LORD only... When Christ comes back as the Lion of Judah He will be coming clothed in the garment of vengeance ...vengeance is not ours to have. Wearing the cloak of zeal will help believers to be zealous in the authority they have to trample upon serpents and scorpions as we as believers enter spiritual warfare.. But we must remember that it is not our zeal.. It is by the Lord's zeal .. It is His zeal that He gives us, to empower us to engage in warfare.. So we may say 'The LORD Rebuke you Satan!' so ask the LORD to wrap His cloak of zeal around you... So you can step out and be zealous for the LORD

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    2. Totally agree Tom. Ephesians 6:13 signifies an offensive aggression that results in victory, and then a defensive stance!! We're taught to stand there and hide behind a shield but never to advance and gain new ground by BREAKING THROUGH a defensive line. Vengeance in the natural realm is completely prohibited biblically! But putting on the garment of vengeance and punishing the powers of darkness for the lives they've destroyed, and the property they've stolen? That's biblical, and that's what Spiritual Warfare is all about...advancing the Kindom of God

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  6. Good day brethren! I greet you all in the Almighty Name that is above all demon, fallen angel and even far above that of microscopic little satan himself: JESUS CHRIST THE LIVING GOD
    (1 John 5:7,20 King James Version).
    I would like to share something with all of you and I hope that it will be a blessing to each and every person reading this:
    What I would like to tell you is that although it is true that vengeance belongs to THE LORD, there are cases where we as Christians must have revenge. I know many of you are probably shocked to read this statement but it's true!! I will prove to you that we must have vengeance! And believe me, revenge will be sweet!

    When your neighbour gossips about you and tells all kinds of lies about you... do not avenge that. Pray for him/her and forgive. When someone steals something that belongs to you... do not avenge that! Pray and forgive... When someone hurts or humiliates you?... Pray and forgive! Do not avenge that!!!

    So now you are probably thinking "But this makes no sense! When are we to have revenge? And besides, revenge is wrong, so what is this guys point?"

    Let me explain: For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, therefore we shall not avenge against flesh and blood
    (Ephe 6:12-18). Remember when someone steals something that belongs to you, he does not know that a demon or satan has tempted him to steal and is then in return also tempting you to avenge this deed, so you must pray for him/her so that GOD might save him/her. In doing this, your obedience to the Father is complete. And when your obedience is complete, you are ready for revenge!

    Now please open your beloved King James Holy Bibles and read
    2 Cor 10:3-6. Here we read that our warfare is not in the flesh or against humans. They are merely victims and are only used by satan. He causes them to be disobedient so that they might all end up in hell.He causes them to be disobedient. He causes the whole world to be disobedient (Ephe 2:2) In the past before we had accepted Christ he had also cused us to be disobedient
    (Ephe 2:3). All this disobedience caused by demons and satan must be avenged.It can however only be avenged by you if your own obedience is fulfilled as explained above. Now read 2 Cor 10:6 in your King James Version Bible, The Word of GOD. If you do not own a King James Bible you may read it here : AND HAVING A READINESS TO REVENGE ALL DISOBEDIENCE, WHEN YOUR OBEDIENCE IS FULFILLED.
    You may pay satan back for all the times someone stole from you, hurt you, raped you, abused you, insulted you. Attack satan! Do not attack the person. You may have your revenge against satan because of your loved ones that are drug addicts! Have your revenge because your comunity is addicted to drugs and because of prostitution and crime being rampant etc! Pay him back for all your past sinfull habits and disobedience! Have your revenge!

    And how do you have your revenge? With the sword of the Spirit! Your King James Bible! By spreading the Holy Word of God! Here is an example: Say something like the following: Satan, I remember how in the past I have been addicted to smoking weed (or whatever type of disobedience) and because my brother , child or best friend is decieved by you I will tell someone about Jesus today. I will spread His Word. I will pray for the sick. I will cast out devils in Jesus' Mighty Name (Mark 16:17,18). I will share scritures with other Christians today! Because you, satan, have caused those that are dear and special in the Eyes of The Father to be disobedient, I will have my revenge! In the Name of Jesus I will defeat your works (Psalm 60:12 King James Version).
    Now go out there you all, and have your revenge.

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  8. You say that Paul does not mention the cloak of zeal in Ephesians when talking about the armor of God. I have been doing a mini study on this for my sunday school and have been led to believe that Paul in fact does. He may not call it the cloak of zeal, but does refer to it. In Ephesians 6:18 Paul says "praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, being watchful to this end with all perserverance and supplication for all the saints" (NKJV) It is my belief from my study that Paul's command to be "watchful to this end with all perserverance and supplication" is Paul referring to the cloak of zeal. Zeal is, according to the Merriam-Webster dictionary online, eagerness and ardent interest in pursuit of something: fervor. Supplication is the action of asking or begging for something earnestly or humbly (wikipedia.org) and perseverance is steady persistence in a course of action, a purpose, a state, etc., especially in spite of difficulties, obstaacles, or discouragement. So if we watch to the end having perseverance and supplication, are we not putting on the cloak of zeal? I say all this and ask my final question so as to hear what other christians think. I thank you for your insights in advance.

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    1. I think you're onto something. Paul's counsel does sound like he's telling us to put on the cloak of zeal. Good catch! Your Sunday school is blessed.

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  9. I really enjoyed reading this post, big fan. Keep up the good work andplease tell me when can you publish more articles or where can I read more on the subject?
    Prom Dresses

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  10. Well, said so clear, appreciating the comment of praying always in Spirit and supplication for all saints, mm Praise be to Jesus for insight, powerful

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  11. First time to here of this in our study feedback, thanks for clarifications exposed here, God increase you!

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