LOVE YOUR ENEMIES (3rd part)
No wonder we hear from Jesus to be like children.
(…continued from 2nd part…)
God is in the business of reconciliation. If anyone decides to destroy another is he not sending a potential born again person to hell, thereby spoiling God’s business? 1Peter 2:13-15, v. 13. Submit yourselves to every ordinance of man for the Lord’s sake: whether it be to the king, as supreme; v 14. Or unto governors, as unto them that are sent by him for the punishment of evildoers, and for the praise of them that do well. V. 15 For so is the will of God, that with well doing ye may put to silence the ignorance of foolish men.”
Romans 13:1-6 supports the above scripture. 1. Let every soul be subject unto the higher powers. For there is no power but of God: the powers that be are ordained of God. 2. Whosoever therefore resisteth the power, resisteth the ordinance of God: and they that resist shall receive to themselves damnation. 3. For rulers are not a terror to good works, but to the evil. Wilt thou then not be afraid of the power? do that which is good, and thou shalt have praise of the same: 4. For he is the minister of God to thee for good. But if thou do that which is evil, be afraid; for he beareth not the sword in vain: for he is the minister of God, a revenger to execute wrath upon him that doeth evil. 5. Wherefore ye must needs be subject, not only for wrath, but also for conscience sake. 6. For for this cause pay ye tribute also: for they are God’s ministers, attending continually upon this very thing.”
You do not need to learn from animals; or do we?
Romans 12:17-21, v.17 “Recompense to no man evil for evil. Provide things honest in the sight of all men. v 18. If it be possible, as much as lieth in you, live peaceably with all men. v 19 Dearly beloved, avenge not yourselves, but rather give place unto wrath: for it is written, Vengeance is mine; I will repay, saith the Lord. v 20 Therefore if thine enemy hunger, feed him; if he thirst, give him drink: for in so doing thou shalt heap coals of fire on his head. v 21 Be not overcome of evil, but overcome evil with good.” Verse 17 debunks Dr. D. K. Olukoya’s “Die, my enemy die,” of Mountain of Fire and Miracles Ministry. Verse 19 says, “Avenge not yourselves”, simply because it is written in the holy writ of God, “Vengeance is mine”, in Isaiah 63:4. Can you overcome evil with good by paying evil with imprecations? Food for thought, I believe.
Our Lord Jesus is very nice when it comes to being gracious. When it is about judgment, He is very firm, never allows double standard. We should emulate Jesus. He died for us while we were yet sinners. “Father forgive them for they know not what they do”, was His submission after they had dipped their hands into the treasury of His own sanctuary to pay for the betrayal of the Lord of Sabbath, flogged Him mercilessly, spat on His face, shamefully and cruelly had Him crucified. Jesus prayed for His enemies. Jesus operated under the dispensation of law but He borrowed abundantly from the following dispensation of grace, in which we are these days. Jesus saw faith in a Syrophenician woman and gracefully gave her what legality would not permit Him to hand over (Mark 7:24-30) to a non-Israelite. Peter who promised an absolutely unflinching support, and when the going got tough, swore by thunder in His denial, making him unfit for the ambassadorial post, did find ample grace in the Lord and was restored to his apostolic office. John 3:16 is about the amazing grace of Jehovah, showered on a sinning world of cruelty. “Woe unto thee, Chorazin! woe unto thee, Bethsaida!” He upbraided in Matthew 11:21. “Woe unto the world because of offences!” in Matthew 18:7. Jesus did not spare the scribes and the Pharisees in Matthew 23:13 and to blind guides in verse16. Jesus did not exempt Judas Iscariot from an impending woe in Matthew 26:24; and Jews received an imprecation for the murder of their prophets in Luke 11:46. In Luke 11:52 Jesus said, “Woe unto you, lawyers! for ye have taken away the key of knowledge: ye entered not in yourselves, and them that were entering in ye hindered”. These are prophetic warnings to check excesses. (Concluded)
Read the 2nd part here.
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