GET TOGETHER- Pray Them In, Love Them In, Do Good To Them In Mt 5:44 “But I say to you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you,
This past week one night as I was watching a newscast I saw a beautiful young girl that I believe has been deceived and in my opinion is worshipping a false god. To be honest I began to rise in unrighteous anger toward this beautiful young girl.
The Holy Spirit quickly corrected me. He reminded me that my battle was not with flesh and blood. The Apostle Paul a former persecutor of Christians before he got saved said it like this “Eph 6:12 For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places.” (NKJV)
Jesus knew what it was like to be hated. He was hated by the religious leaders of His day. He knew what it was like to be belittled for what He believed. He was mocked, scorned, beaten, rejected and finally nailed to a cross. Yet He lived what He taught. As He was being crucified on Calvary’s hill he loved, forgave and prayed for His enemies. Lu 23:33,34 “And when they had come to the place called Calvary, there they crucified Him, and the criminals, one on the right hand and the other on the left. Then Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they do.” And they divided His garments and cast lots.” It works! One Roman soldier and one of the thieves believed that day. Lu 23:42,43 Then he said to Jesus, “Lord, remember me when You come into Your kingdom.” And Jesus said to him, “Assuredly, I say to you, today you will be with Me in Paradise.” Mt 27:54 So when the centurion and those with him, who were guarding Jesus, saw the earthquake and the things that had happened, they feared greatly, saying, “Truly this was the Son of God!” It works!
He could have said wait until I come back the next time you scumbags, but He didn’t. He lived what He preached. God loves to turn His enemies into friends. I know I was once an enemy of His, and so were you when you were living in sin. But now if you have been born again you are a friend of God’s. Col 1:21 “And you, who once were alienated and enemies in your mind by wicked works, yet now He has reconciled.”
Stephen the first recorded martyr of the church prayed for his enemies as well. He used Jesus Christ as His model of how to respond to persecution. Acts 7:58 -60 “and they cast him out of the city and stoned him. And the witnesses laid down their clothes at the feet of a young man named Saul. And they stoned Stephen as he was calling on God and saying, “Lord Jesus, receive my spirit. “Then he knelt down and cried out with a loud voice, “Lord, do not charge them with this sin.” And when he had said this, he fell asleep.” Saul would be born again. He would become the Apostle Paul and write thirteen, or fourteen books of the New Testament. He would go on three missionary journeys and take the Gospel to at least two continents. What if Stephen hadn’t been praying? What if Stephen had responded by cursing him and calling him names. You might not be reading the Gospel now. It works!
So I have been praying for the beautiful young girl that I believe is worshipping a false god. I am praying that she will come to know the true God by faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. I am praying for those that I have seen blaspheme the Lord in the last few days. Jesus died for them and He wants to save their souls . Are we willing to pray ,love, bless ,and do good to our enemies as Jesus commanded us? Or does that not apply, or work in the twenty first century? As a Pastor and Evangelist I see souls that Jesus died for. I believe that if the church uses the approach that Jesus commanded us to use that we will see enemies turned to friends for the Glory of God.
Let Us Pray
Lord Jesus you love to save hard hearted, hard headed people. You love to turn your enemies into friends. Anoint us with such an anointing that Your love, grace and mercy flows through us when we face persecution, ridicule and false accusations. Help us to win the lost that You paid the price for by shedding Your precious blood on Calvary’s cross.
In Jesus Name
Amen
Keep praying ,loving, forgiving, and blessing.
Your Friend/Kinfolk
Preston
