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Thursday,
November 27, 2008
Bless, Not Curse
Romans 12:12-14 Rejoicing in hope;
patient in tribulation; continuing instant in prayer; (13) Distributing to
the necessity of saints; given to hospitality. (14) Bless them which
persecute you: bless, and curse not. (KJV)
During a time or season of trial the
enemy will try to paint an ugly picture; putting a physical face on a
spiritual situation. We wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against
the prince of the power of the air, the one who tries to influence us and
get us to fall back into the realm of the flesh. If you have ever noticed
with negative people (and it only takes a few minutes of listening to what is
coming out of their mouth), that their lives would be so much better if it
wasn’t for other people who they claim are the reason for their
shortcomings and faults. The truth be known though, and the only truth that
will set one free from this realm, is that all the promises of God are a
sure thing to those that believe despite what anyone else thinks or says,
or even does contrary to sound doctrine.
Psalms 37:7-9 Rest in the LORD, and wait
patiently for him: fret not thyself because of him who prospereth in his
way, because of the man who bringeth wicked devices to pass. (8) Cease from
anger, and forsake wrath: fret not thyself in any wise to do evil. (9) For
evildoers shall be cut off: but those that wait upon the LORD, they shall
inherit the earth. (KJV)
Yeah I know, once again we see in the
news the rich getting bailed out by the lower class of wage earners, and if
one entertains these thoughts long enough it can lead to wrath. While many
claim to know the answer to these problems, the truth be known is that
there is nothing that will really change until our Lord returns and sets
things in order. Keep in mind again, so that you don’t get angry or
entangled in the affairs of this life, that our Lord does promise to
continue to supply all your need according to the riches and glory in
Christ Jesus despite those that pilfer and steal. Also keep in mind too
that the enemy knows he only has a short time as well, thus the reason why
he tries to get us worked up and angry, trying to get us to fall from our good
standing with the Lord.
James 1:19-20 Wherefore, my beloved
brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath:
(20) For the wrath of man worketh not the righteousness of God. (KJV)
Please take note of the fact that if your
motivation for serving the Lord is anything other than love, then you will
not make any progress in your walk with Him. In every situation we
encounter in a day we have a choice to react in the flesh or respond in the
Spirit, which can only happen by being quicker to hear and slow to speak.
Have you ever noticed when children speak, at times it can actually be
amusing, like when they repeat something that the parent said about someone
else, something that the parent spoke out in wrath. By the time it is
brought out into the open, especially in front of the person it was being
spoke against, it can be a real Kodak moment so to speak for the person
that wasn’t so quick to hear and slow to speak.
Proverbs 14:29-30 He that is slow to
wrath is of great understanding: but he that is hasty of spirit exalteth
folly. (30) A sound heart is the life of the flesh: but envy the rottenness
of the bones. (KJV)
“Oh but that person just made me so mad I
could have screamed”. Wait a minute, God said you were made in His image
and His likeness; so was it so much that they made you mad or that you
chose to enter that realm? Again we see in verse 29 that if one is hasty in
spirit, or should I say slow to hear the Lord’s response, then the only
thing that ends up getting exalted is the folly and not the solution. The
enemy will do all that he can to paint an ugly picture, and then if he sees
a spark he will throw some fuel on that spark also to get the fire burning.
The quicker that one can hear, which comes from training and exercising our
spiritual senses, the less of a wildfire and damage will result.
Proverbs 15:1-2 A soft answer turneth
away wrath: but grievous words stir up anger. (2) The tongue of the wise
useth knowledge aright: but the mouth of fools poureth out foolishness. (KJV)
Remember the ‘do unto others as we would
have them do unto us’ verse? Well a soft answer is much easier to deal with
than a loud boisterous demanding one. In fact grievous words can be like
ringing a bell for a fight, the first response is to put up the gloves and
take a swing. It all comes down to training oneself all over again; we
lived in the carnal realm before our conversion for years and only knew one
response, but now we need to be still, patient in a time of trial and
tribulation, and retrain ourselves to respond in the Spirit knowing that
the wrath of man does not operate in right standing with God.
Romans 12:17-18 Recompense to no man evil
for evil. Provide things honest in the sight of all men. (18) If it be
possible, as much as lieth in you, live peaceably with all men. (KJV)
Hey let’s face it, we have all had things
happen to us that we knew were not right, and our first thought was how can
we return the favor. Again we see the Spiritual response and encouragement,
if there is any way possible, live peaceably and not become entangled with
the affairs of this life. The reason is, that it can become too much of a
distraction, and the more we entertain these thoughts the uglier the enemy
will paint and distort the picture.
Romans 12:19-21 Dearly beloved, avenge
not yourselves, but rather give place unto wrath: for it is written,
Vengeance is mine; I will repay, saith the Lord. (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.(21) Be not overcome of evil, but
overcome evil with good. (KJV)
With God all things are possible to those
that believe, so keep in mind that our Lord is asking us to be overcomers;
in other words rather than curse the person or situation, bless.
Philippians 4:8 Finally, brethren,
whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things
are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely,
whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there
be any praise, think on these things. (KJV)
If you notice, there is a difference
between the carnal mind and a renewed one, one that is trained to look
above and beyond this realm and into the eternal one. I will be the first
one to admit that there are things that rub me the wrong way, like Paul
described can be a thorn in the flesh, but the more I can train and remind
myself of the things of God, the less I will be motivated and driven by the
wrath of man. God bless and continue to think on the things above.
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