Michael continues: When Jesus confronted the Pharisees, He said, you want to call fire down from heaven to consume those you consider to be beneath you, the poor souls who are burdened by sin, the helpless, homeless, hungry, thirsty, tired and downtrodden. However, God so loved the world that He sent His Son Jesus Christ, not to condemn the world, (because it was already condemned by sin) but heal the world through Him by His substitutionary; sacrifice on the Cross that they might be saved.
How do you overcome the evil of this world and evil people who follow after the perverted doctrines of spiritual darkness and the devil? Paul said, be not overcome of evil but overcome evil with good ... for hatred stirs up strife, but love covers a multitude of sins. (Proverbs 10:12)
Those who are rebellious of God think they are right, and judge others who do not follow their perverted sense of so-called righteous indignation (calling good evil and evil good). They say, because we stand for self-righteous judgement, we have the right to destroy what we perceive as evil people who don’t think like they think. Those who oppose God’s salvation by grace alone, thorough faith alone in Christ alone, will think that if they stop and silence you, they are doing God a favor. But be careful how you judge others. Jesus said, humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God and He will exalt you. The love of God starts with humility; with the attitude that says, there but for the grace of God go I.
1 John 3:13 tells us, “Do not be surprised, my brothers and sisters, if the world hates you.” The unbelieving world will seek to eliminate the Light of God, His Christ and His saved born-again Believers. It is not a matter of if, but when it is going to happen. The righteous before God will be persecuted, ridiculed, bullied, and afflicted for speaking the truth of the Word of God and Jesus said, this is a blessing. All God requires is sure faith and extreme obedience ,with no questioning or complaining on our part and no explanation on His, knowing that the Lord is in complete control. This is the definition of Lordship. Lordship means to die to self in order to live for the Lord. Jesus said, he who loses his life for my sake, shall find it ... life to the full and eternal.
In John 15:18-19 Jesus explains, “If the world hates you, you know that it hated Me before it hated you. If you were of the world, the world would love its own. Yet because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you.” Then in John 16:33 reassures us, “These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world.”
The Apostle Paul concludes in Romans 5:1-5, “Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom also we have access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God. And not only that, but we also glory in tribulations, knowing that tribulation produces perseverance; and perseverance, character; and character, hope. Now hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit who was given to us.” God’s proven character within us. And experience works hope, ultimately the hope of the return of Jesus Christ. The hope of the Second Coming of our Lord makes us not ashamed because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts.
To overcome the evil of sin, persecution, and the hatred of this God-rejecting world, love your enemies, and bless them that persecute you. Proverbs 25:21-22 instructs us, “If your enemy is hungry, give him bread to eat; And if he is thirsty, give him water to drink; For so you will heap coals of fire on his head, and the Lord will reward you.” In loving God above all and our neighbor as ourselves, be not overcome of evil but overcome evil with good, because greater is He that is in you than he that is in the world; that we may ever live to the praise of the glory of Thy grace!
Your brother in Christ, Michael
1 comment:
How as a pastor do you support your son alienating his children from their mother and now the younger grandson doesn’t get to see his brother ? Blessed are the persecuted. Blessed will be the mother because god said in all things work for the good of those who love him and are called accordingly to his purpose
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