Ronin

It is my hearts desire that, this teaching will speak to your servants heart; by opening you up to knowing the heart of a servant in the House of the Lord!

The title of this teaching was dropped in my spirit by the Holy Ghost sometime ago. I enjoy history and learning about other cultures, I’m also a Martial Arts lover; so when the Holy Spirit prompted me to look into the word Ronin after watching a Japanese Samurai movie, I began to ponder this and look into it as well as talk about it.

What I found out, floored me and the Holy Spirit began to link the Word of God up with what I had learned; now allow me to pass onto you what I have learned and how the Holy Spirit showed me how the Ronin spirit in the heart of servant can operate within the Body of Christ. Though not effectively if detected and exposed.

The heart of a servant is what makes the Body of Christ operate as God intended; we should all strive to function within our local churches as God intended. For it is His will that we be on one accord and like mind in our pursuit to manifest His will were He has placed us to serve. Please remember this that true servanthood, is not ease, it is not convenient, it can be physically and emotionally taxing; being a true servant in the Body of Christ is not for the faint of heart.

(NLT)

17 Obey your spiritual leaders, and do what they say. Their work is to watch over your souls, and they are accountable to God. Give them reason to do this with joy and not with sorrow. That would certainly not be for your benefit.

(The Message)

17 Be responsive to your pastoral leaders. Listen to their counsel. They are alert to the condition of your lives and work under the strict supervision of God. Contribute to the joy of their leadership, not its drudgery. Why would you want to make things harder for them?

Wesley’s Commentary Notes on the Bible

13: 17 Obey them that have the rule over you - The word implies also, that lead or guide you; namely, in truth and holiness. And submit yourselves - Give up (not your conscience or judgment, but) your own will, in all things purely indifferent. For they watch over your souls - With all zeal and diligence, they guard and caution you against all danger. As they that must give account - To the great Shepherd, for every part of their behaviour toward you.

The Ronin

The word Ronin comes from the feudal (war) period (1185-1868) Japan. Ronin’s were once Samurai that lost there place.

The word Ronin means (drifter or wanderer, wandering man, vagrant) it is normally referring to a samurai without lord or master.

drifter (defined) a person who is continually moving from place to place, without any fixed home or job.

wanderer (defined) to move about without a definite destination or purpose.

lord (defined) someone or something having power, authority or influence; master or ruler

master (defined) a man who has people working for him; a person who has dominance or control of something; a male head of household; a male in charge of an organization or group, in particular.

Ronin were know as those who chose not to honor the code (they did not keep there word)

Ronin were know as those who chose not to honor the code

The code was called Bushido (the way of warriors) the codes of honor and ideals that dictated the samurai way of life; which commonly stressing compassion, respect, Integrity, sincerity, loyalty, heroic courage, justice, self-control, honor, righteousness, submission to lord or master whole heartedly.

When one became a Ronin it was an indication that he lost his state, that a warrior had lost his way; that the warrior violated his oath. When Ronin was pronounced upon a fallen warrior it normal had to do with them not obeying there lord or master, once this occured; he could no longer walk in the place of honor.

[we to have a code of that dictates how we should conduct ourselves]

(NLT)

22 Run from anything that stimulates youthful lusts. Instead, pursue righteous living, faithfulness, love, and peace. Enjoy the companionship of those who call on the Lord with pure hearts.

23 Again I say, don’t get involved in foolish, ignorant arguments that only start fights. 24 A servant of the Lord must not quarrel but must be kind to everyone, be able to teach, and be patient with difficult people.

Ronin’s many times were known to operate, or serve as hired muscle for gangs, petty thieves and muggers they had reputations of disgrace. No all Ronin followed that path, some returned to what hey once were, others ran bar’s, or brothel’s. While few tried to be mercenaries for hire, going for lord to lord.

22–26 Run away from infantile indulgence. Run after mature righteousness—faith, love, peace—joining those who are in honest and serious prayer before God. Refuse to get involved in inane discussions; they always end up in fights. God’s servant must not be argumentative, but a gentle listener and a teacher who keeps cool,

I want to introduces this very key point, which we will look into further in the teaching; Ronin’s kept there weapons but not there word:

They still carried both there swords, but not there honor.

(NLT)

29 For God’s gifts and his call can never be withdrawn.

Ronin’s don’t follow Leaders

One of the focal points of the spirit of Ronin in operation is that they can’t or willfully will not follow the leader appointed over them, that they vowed to serve.

The Ronin spirit will not line up with the direction of the appointed leader over them.

(NLT)

28 “So guard yourselves and God’s people. Feed and shepherd God’s flock—his church, purchased with his own blood—over which the Holy Spirit has appointed you as leaders.

Ronin spirit can recognize the spiritual authority of the Leader appointed by God. This is what displace them, there is a disconnect which is caused by the lack of submission.

The Ronin spirit will allow something else to will take precedent over the instruction of the leader.

(NLT)

The Cost of Following Jesus

57 As they were walking along, someone said to Jesus, “I will follow you wherever you go.”

58 But Jesus replied, “Foxes have dens to live in, and birds have nests, but the Son of Man has no place even to lay his head.”

59 He said to another person, “Come, follow me.”

The man agreed, but he said, “Lord, first let me return home and bury my father.”

60 But Jesus told him, “Let the spiritually dead bury their own dead! Your duty is to go and preach about the Kingdom of God.”

61 Another said, “Yes, Lord, I will follow you, but first let me say good-bye to my family.”

62 But Jesus told him, “Anyone who puts a hand to the plow and then looks back is not fit for the Kingdom of God.”

Ronin the Drifter or Wanderer

There are two types of Ronin that you can come across, one is a drifter spirit and the other is a wandering spirit. List look at each on separately as to identify what can occur when a servant loses his place.

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