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"Persecution: Don't Let The Devil Win!" |
Previously we discussed how persecution and
trials are not only to be expected, but are to be embraced as opportunities to
enter more fully into the
For am I now seeking the favor of men, or of God? Or am I striving to
please men? If I were still trying to please men, I would not be a bond-servant
of Christ.
Persecution
From Your Friends, Not Your Enemies
To the degree that man pleasing controls our
lives, we have forsaken our bond-service to Christ. As Paul also wrote in II
Timothy 3:12:
And indeed, all who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will be
persecuted.
As Christians we should be much more concerned if we are not being persecuted
than if we are. If we are not being persecuted, it is likely because we have so
compromised the ways of the Lord that we are no longer an offense or a threat
to the enemies of God.
Where is this persecution going to come from? Just as Jesus Himself was not
persecuted by the more overt sinners, but by the religious community, who were
His own brethren, the same has been the case for all who have sought to follow
Him. A reason why one of the devil's main titles is "the accuser of our
brethren" (Revelation 12:10) is because one of his main strategies has
always been to get brethren accusing one another.
Unity Increases Spiritual
Authority
The devil seems to know even better than the
church that unity increases spiritual authority. One can put a thousand to
flight, but two can put ten thousand to flight (see Deuteronomy 32:30).
Therefore, the highest priority of the devil is to create division in the
church. If a church in a city ever came into true unity, the devil and his evil
devices would all be quickly driven out of that city. If there is unity in a
family, the devil will not find a place there. Therefore, it is in our best
interest to not let things divide us from one another. Before we get into how we
deal with persecution, let us first determine not to persecute our brethren,
but always work toward their edification.
As we read in Ephesians 4:29-32 previously, what grieves the Holy Spirit is
"bitterness, wrath, anger, clamor, slander, and malice." Now let us
read those verses with the one that proceeds it.
"Let no unwholesome word proceed from your mouth, but only such a
word as is good for edification according to the need of the moment, that it
may give grace to those who hear.
And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day
of redemption.
Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put away from
you, along with all malice.
And be kind to one another, tender-hearted, forgiving each other, just as God
in Christ also has forgiven you" (Ephesians 4:28-32).
If we do not do anything else this week but determine to control our words, by
not letting anything come out of our mouths except that which is good for the
edification of those who hear, we will likely be much closer to the kingdom and
to the King, than we have been before. Let us resolve to do this one thing. The
results will be extraordinary.
by Rick Joyner
EMAIL: Mpiservice@aol.com
WEB SITE: http://www.morningstarministries.org/