"Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life, whereunto thou art also called, and hast professed a good profession before many witnesses." 1 Timothy 6:12.
History is filled with freedom fighters. But who are the real freedom fighters? "Ganga Zumba was a hero & freedom fighter who was central to the history and modern-day struggle of the Brazilian Black Movement, having led an alliance of “independent settlements” called Quilombo dos Palmares. An area located in northeastern Brazil, Quilombo dos Palmares was founded by runway Brazilian African captives in the late 16th century as resistance to colonizers and enslavers.
About 20k fugitive slaves, native Brazilians and various outcast groups (such as Jews & Muslims), inhabited Palmares throughout the period. (1600s—1694) The area became one of the first places, in the Americas, where Black captives found freedom. For almost a 100years, Black people in Quilombo fought against their oppressors, particularly the Portuguese who at that time attempted to colonize Brazil. Zumba led these attacks against the oppressors & despite repeated threats from the colonial authorities, Quilombo thrived as fugitive captive set up a collective economy based upon subsistence agriculture, trade, and communal land ownership.
His end came when attempting to establish a treaty with the Portuguese where the quilombo would no longer accept fugitive slaves or fight the Portuguese in exchange for permanent recognition of their land and freedom for those born in Palmares. The condition was for the palmarinos to move elsewhere—the Cucau Valley. In the treaty, the Portuguese confirmed their acceptance of Zumba is the supreme leader of his people. His nephew, Zumbi, the settlement’s military leader, disapproved and staged a coup against him. He chose resistance to the Portuguese. Ganga Zumba is poisoned later that year. The common belief is that it was by those siding with Zumbi. Those loyal to Ganga would move to the Cucau Valley to re-establish Palmares. Unfortunately, they would be captured and placed back into slavery. To hold on to Palmares territory, Zumbi turned his revolt on the Portuguese." BY African Archives.
As it is in the physical, so is it in the spiritual. This reflects the broader biblical theme that God often uses the physical to reveal spiritual truths. Because in this world, the natural always precedes the spiritual in the order of spiritual lessons.
"The controversy that was waged between Christ and Satan is renewed over every soul that leaves the black banner of the prince of darkness to march under the blood-stained banner of Prince Emmanuel. The evil one will present the most subtle allurements to draw those away from their allegiance who would be true to Heaven, but we must yield all the powers of our being into the service of God, and then we shall be kept from falling into the snares of the enemy..."
In our scripture text, "The earnest counsel given by the apostle Paul to Timothy, that he might not fail in doing his duty, should be set before the youth of today: “Let no man despise thy youth; but be thou an example of the believers, in word, in conversation, in charity, in spirit, in faith, in purity.” 1 Timothy 4:12. Besetting sins must be battled with and overcome. Objectionable traits of character, whether hereditary or cultivated, should be taken up separately, and compared with the great rule of righteousness; and in the light reflected from the Word of God, they should be firmly resisted and overcome, through the strength of Christ...
Day by day, and hour by hour, there must be a vigorous process of self-denial and of sanctification going on within; and then the outward works will testify that Jesus is abiding in the heart by faith. Sanctification does not close the avenues of the soul to knowledge, but it comes to expand the mind, and to inspire it to search for truth, as for hidden treasure; and the knowledge of God's will advances the work of sanctification. There is a heaven, and O, how earnestly we should strive to reach it. I appeal to you ... to believe in Jesus as your Saviour. Believe that He is ready to help you by His grace, when you come to Him in sincerity. You must fight the good fight of faith. You must be wrestlers for the crown of life. Strive, for the grasp of Satan is upon you; and if you do not wrench yourselves from him, you will be palsied and ruined. The foe is on the right hand, and on the left, before you, and behind you; and you must trample him under your feet. Strive, for there is a crown to be won."
May God help us today as we continue to fight the good fight of faith. Have a HAPPY DAY! Blessings, Blessings, Blessings
By GARDEN MINISTRY
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