Check out the video on YouTube.
This week the Lord wants us to discuss loving our enemies.
Insight
The first thing I realize is how much this verse (and the whole sermon on the mount) is NOT only for the disciples. Jesus told/warned them what would happen as they followed Him, while it had not yet happened to Him (completely).
Yahushua (Jesus) was fully man and fully Yah (God). He knew what was before Him, but He was still human with human feelings and experiences. I believe Father having Him speak this was also preparation. His preparation of things to come.
My sister in Christ always says she never tells anyone anything (from God) without thinking it is for her as well. That is something I am continuing to learn today. I would like to think it was the same for our Messiah, He is our standard and our Way to follow. All that He commanded, He did it without effort.
When giving advice in the Word of God, we should be sure we are holding ourselves to the same standards we preach to others knowing we are not exempt from any law of God. He gave us grace freely, so should we give grace freely.
Ponder
Think of how the Messiah may have felt when the same people asking for healing was calling Him Beelzebub; or those who were supposed to love and serve Him hated Him. Those He healed, shouted and cheered for His crucifixion.
He had to be hurting at some point, but He was prepared, this word was for Him as well.
Breakdown
Who are our enemies as believers?
- Anyone who does not believe.
- Anyone who ‘believes’ BUT does not obey.
- Anyone not bearing the fruit of the Spirit of God.
As believers we will always have more enemies than friends. Our enemies are anyone who is a friend of the world.
James 4:4 says, "Adulterers and adulteresses! Do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity with God? Whoever therefore wants to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God."
As God’s friends, ANY enemy of His is also ours. ANY person who does not lead us closer to YAH is a stumbling block and an offense to our faith and hope, Christ Jesus. This can be anyone, mother, father, sibling, spouse, even your prayer or study partner!
When you desire to serve God seriously, in spirit and in truth, anyone who does not is your enemy. They may not aspire to harm you in their hearts or actions, but if they are not submitted to Christ and filled with the Holy Ghost, they are subject to and will be used by Satan, the adversary of our soul. He will use them in any way possible because he seeks with no end to take us out.
The great news is we should love our enemies (unto the Lordship of Jesus Christ)!
We don’t have to completely cut ties (sometimes you MUST - follow the Spirit in every situation) but with every interaction we should let our witness act as sandpaper and be intentional about evangelizing, leading to Christ in every situation; either calling people to better or curiosity in Christ.
Be aware that the enemy will use anything, even something portrayed as ‘good’.
Be discerning let the Spirit lead you. Do not be a friend but love them. It is our duty.
2 Corinthians 6:14 says, "Do not be unequally yoked together with unbelievers. For what fellowship has righteousness with lawlessness? And what communion has light with darkness?"
Lead them to Christ, He will tell you if you should let someone go and when to let someone go.
I would like to mention something I have been told and learned myself. There is only 1 out of 2 reasons as a believer for a person being in our life.
1. They are present to sharpen us.
2. They are present for us to minister to.
Proverbs 27:17 says, "As iron sharpens iron, So a man sharpens the countenance of his friend."
Our friends are those who sharpen us, as we will also sharpen them. Those we can learn from, following them as they follow Christ, and those who can learn from us.
If a person is not calling us or provoking us to go deeper in our study, prayer, and intimacy with God; they will not sharpen us and they are not our friends.
We are disciples of Christ, and all have the assignment of bearing His image in the capacity He sees fit to give us. Any person who still looks like the world, we should love them and minister them at any chance given. Not only by our character in loving them but also with the Word of God and always speaking on those things that are pure, holy, and righteous.
What are curses?
Strong’s topical – a violent expression of evil upon others.
AV 1611: CURSE
- To utter a wish of evil against one. To imprecate evil upon; to call for mischief or injury to fall upon, to execrate – feel or express great loathing.
- To injure, subject to evil, to vex, harass or torment with great calamity.
- To denote evil
When someone curses you, they simply speak against you in any way. Even saying things out of good intention or not to harm can still be curses.
Proverbs 18:21 says, "Death and life are in the power of the tongue, And those who love it will eat its fruit."
Example:
“I hope she runs out of gas” can be a joke, a just kidding moment; but it is a curse.
OR
“His cancer may be back.” Even saying this statement can be a curse if not true and after saying it, no initiative is taken to pray for the person or issue.
We MUST be careful what we say. We can speak curses accidentally on ourselves and on others.
Confession:
I just recently had to repent for speaking curses against my brother. Because even though what I thought may have been a fact or seemed obvious, I am still called to pray for him. Not speak ill of him, or gossip about him, or slander him (even in the thoughts of my heart).
This is why gossiping, reviling, slandering, and lying, etc. is forbidden.
Also, profanity – curse words – are an abomination to God.
What are blessings?
Strong’s topical – to bestow blessings upon.
Blessings = the gift of God’s grace.
AV 1611: BLESS
- To pronounce a wish/desire of happiness for someone.
- To make happy, successful, or prosper.
- To consecrate by prayer, to invoke a blessing upon.
Speak good of and for them (those who curse us) and pray for the betterment of their heart. We should be intentional about speaking well to all people even when they are rude to us. We should always think before we speak and pray for those who curse us. Although it may hurt us we must ask God to help them, bless them, and keep them.
Please repent BEFORE asking God to remove curses.
We have all been guilty of ignorance. Let’s thank God for His grace and mercy on us.
There is NONE good but God.
This circles around to love your enemies, but it is a little different. Those who hate you are also enemies, but all your enemies may not hate you.
Since there is NONE good but God, we should always be a witness/example of Him to believers and unbelievers. Even people we know do not like us or those who go out of their way to hurt/curse you, you should be intentionally kind to them.
Speaking nice words, also keeping positive face expressions. Go the extra mile to exude the love of Christ unto to them. We do not return evil with evil.
Matthew 5:38-39 says, “You have heard that it was said, ‘An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth.’ But I tell you not to resist an evil person. But whoever slaps you on your right cheek, turn the other to him also."
Nine times out of ten the person who hates you for no apparent reason is likely on assignment (by the enemy) to provoke you and get you out of the will of God.
As well as being kind to them, be sure to pray for them. You have the love of God, they do not, show them His love through your kindness and pray that they might be saved.
Dislike the (evil) spirit behind the person but love their soul into everlasting life through Christ.
Pray that God would give you the strength to return hate with love and goodness.
Spitefully – malice, ill- willed, evil
People who spitefully use us – just because they can or prefer to – can even appear innocent at times.
Example:
Obvious - they only call when they are in need of something.
Not so obvious – some who may keep contact with you often, but they ALWAYS have an agenda. This can be someone who is manipulative and may seriously be in need, but they take advantage. Making you feel obligated to help them and even guilty if you cannot help them.
They may try to use you because they can or think they have a right to. When it comes to this, we cannot get caught in feelings or emotions. Do not feel guilt, sorrow, or shame from another person’s attitude but pray and allow the Holy Spirit to lead you.
Especially in dealing with those who you may feel a responsibility to in any way. (parents, siblings, etc.) If you do not feel a responsibility towards that person pray and move on from them.
Pray God would reveal to you those in your life that are using and deceiving you for what you can offer to them.
Persecute – hostility, ill-treatment
Those who persecute – many of us have experienced this concerning race or gender. It is important to note the greatest persecution we will suffer is for being followers of CHRIST, but it is unto His glory and our testing.
James 1:2-4 says, "My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience. But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing."
We should remember the world will hate us and despise us – plotting to kill us as they did our Messiah and brethren in Acts. We are to pray for them. That God would have grace, mercy, and forgiveness unto them.
We should always endure, looking toward our hope of glory Christ Jesus.
It is my prayer that this has helped increase you in your faith and walk with Jesus.
Please comment below your thoughts, any questions you may have, and any new revelation you received from this!
Let me know if you are struggling with loving your enemies and how God is growing you in that area!
Jennaezha Halsey
Comments