Thursday, September 5th, 2019
By Pastor Chris Oyakhilome
"But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you" (Matthew 5:44 KJV)
Some Christians have what they call, "Enemy vanquishing services," where they pray against their perceived enemies. But that's not scriptural. The Word says, "...Love your enemies...."
Whatever God tells you to do is for your benefit. If He tells you to love your enemies, it means you can, and it's also for your advantage. So, you've got to do the Word. Moreover, the Word shows that the adversary we contend with isn't flesh and blood: "For we wrestle not against flesh and blood..." (Ephesians 6:12 KJV).
Christians who pray against their enemies do so mainly out of fear and insecurity, and that's because they are ignorant. If Jesus Christ is your Lord, the Master and Shepherd of your life, then you have nothing to fear. David understood this and exclaimed in Psalm 27:1, "The Lord is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? the Lord is the strength of my life; of whom shall I be afraid?" Have this same consciousness.
Consider Solomon; the Lord said to him, "...Ask what I shall give thee" (2 Chronicles 1:7 KJV). Solomon asked for wisdom and knowledge. Then God said to him, "...Because this was in thine heart, and thou hast not asked riches, wealth, honour, nor the life of thine enemies...Wisdom and knowledge is granted unto thee; and I will give thee riches, and wealth, and honour, such as none of the kings have had that have been before thee, neither shall there any after thee have the like" (2 Chronicles 1:11-12 KJV). This is instructive! The Lord commended him for not asking for the destruction of his enemies.
The desire of the Spirit is to see the salvation of your enemies. They're already in trouble with God if they don't repent. However, your role is to intercede for them and bring them words by which, or through which they can be saved.
PRAYER
"Gracious and loving heavenly Father, I thank you for the counsel in your Word. You've given me a heart that loves only, and granted me the capacity to express your love that's shed abroad in my heart by your Spirit. I lavishly express your love today, in Jesus' Name. Amen."
FURTHER STUDY
"And we have known and believed the love that God hath to us; and he that dwelleth in love dwelleth in God, and God in him" (1 John 4:16 KJV).
"Ye have heard that it hath been said, Thou shalt love thy neighbour, and hate thine enemy. But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you; that ye may be children of your Father which is in heaven: for he maketh his sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust." (Matthew 5:43-45 KJV).
"And hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us" (Romans 5:5 KJV).
1 YEAR BIBLE-READING PLAN:
2 Corinthians 3:7-4:1-18; Proverbs 16-17
2 YEAR BIBLE-READING PLAN:
Luke 21:1-9; 1 Samuel 24
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