THE SHIELD #8 Jesuits, Knights & Saints

With the passing of the first Jesuit pope, let's talk about the mission of the church universal.

Define CATHOLIC: late Middle English: from Old French catholique or late Latin catholicus, from Greek katholikos ‘universal’, from kata ‘in respect of’ + holos ‘whole’.

Psalms 84:11 AMP

For the Lord God is a sun and shield; The Lord bestows grace and favor and honor; No good thing will He withhold from those who walk uprightly.

JESUITS

The Society of Jesus (Jesuit Order) is a special order for clerical Catholic men founded by Ignatius of Loyola, a Spanish captain. He and six companions established it in 1540 to further the cause of the church. Their agenda includes evangelization, apostolic ministry, education, research and cultural influence. Jesuits live dedicated lives and have been called ‘God's soldiers.’

Their participation in the Counter-Reformation is of concern however. Would the right hand of fellowship with protestants not have been the way to go?

KNIGHTS

When the time came for the church in Europe to push back against Islamic infiltration in the near and middle east, they launched a series of CRUSADES to take back Jerusalem and preserve Christendom. Central to this was the knighthood.

The knights went from mere servants and bodyguards to nobility as the need for chivalry grew in the Christian world. Knights became land owners and escorts for Christian pilgrims to the Holy Land.

During battles with the Muslims the knights showed their military prowess and willingness to defend the Christian way of life.

What lesson can the modern Europe learn from this… a modern Europe threatened by a wave of Islamic religious pressure. Protect your Christian heritage… it is your life!

Psalms 137:5-6 NIV

If I forget you, Jerusalem, may my right hand forget its skill. May my tongue cling to the roof of my mouth if I do not remember you, if I do not consider Jerusalem my highest joy.

SAINTS

Walking along the aisle of the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception Antananarivo, I marveled at the frescoes of the saints… Saint Jude, Patron Saint of Lost Causes; Saint Mark the Evangelist, whose feast day held just a couple of days ago on April 25.

The idea of a saint evokes visions of a life set apart for the Master's use. A life of honor and glory, immortalized in eternal life.

Romans 2:7 AMP

to those who by persistence in doing good seek [unseen but certain heavenly] glory, honor, and immortality, [He will give the gift of] eternal life.

In rightly dividing the Word of Truth we find that SAINTHOOD actually starts now and is assigned by God Almighty to the one who is ready to receive the gift of eternal life.

Listen to our brother Daniel:

Daniel 7:21-22, 27 AMP

[21] As I kept looking, that horn was making war with the saints (believers) and overpowering them [Rev 13:7-9] [22] until the Ancient of Days came and judgment was passed in favor of the saints of the Most High [God], and the time arrived when the saints (believers) took possession of the kingdom.

[27]  And the kingdom and the dominion and the greatness of the kingdoms under the whole heaven shall be given to the people of the saints of the Most High; his kingdom shall be an everlasting kingdom, and all dominions shall serve and obey him.’

Saints are the solution to the conflict of the ages. The saints are God's plan for the Kingdom of Heaven to flourish in the earth. If the shoe fits you should wear it… take up your sword and SHIELD.

Shalom