Proverbs 16:7 When a man’s ways please the LORD, He makes even his enemies to be at peace with him.
My pride is ruining my testimony because I want the grace of God in my life, but, I want God’s judgment on my enemies’ lives without mercy. Well, saints, this pride will not do. In order for my enemies to be at peace with me, I must please the Lord.
God’s first order of faith is in Him, and second that I love my neighbours and my enemies as myself. Mark 12:30 And thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength: this is the first commandment. 31 And the second is like, namely this, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. There is none other commandment greater than these. Luke 6:27 But I say unto you which hear, Love your enemies, do good to them which hate you. Choices in life are most often simple, but not always easy to live out.
God’s first order of faith is in Him, and second that I love my neighbours and my enemies as myself. Mark 12:30 And thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength: this is the first commandment. 31 And the second is like, namely this, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. There is none other commandment greater than these. Luke 6:27 But I say unto you which hear, Love your enemies, do good to them which hate you. Choices in life are most often simple, but not always easy to live out.
We read in the book of Genesis the story of Joseph who was betrayed by his brothers because of jealousy. After years of slavery and imprisonment, Joseph emerges as second-in-command only to Pharaoh himself.
Joseph’s brothers came to Egypt to buy food because of a great famine in the land. Now they must deal with Joseph who is now in a position of great power and can exact revenge. However, Joseph forgives his brothers. Gen. 45:4 And Joseph said unto his brethren, Come near to me, I pray you. And they came near. And he said, I am Joseph your brother, whom ye sold into Egypt. 5 Now therefore be not grieved, nor angry with yourselves, that ye sold me hither: for God did send me before you to preserve life.
There was a lot for Joseph to forgive here, yet he could see that it was God who had directed his life and turned everything to the good for Joseph personally. He also preserved a nation from starvation. God made his enemies be at peace with him and better yet, Joseph was also at peace with his enemies who were now restored, brothers.
Joseph’s brothers came to Egypt to buy food because of a great famine in the land. Now they must deal with Joseph who is now in a position of great power and can exact revenge. However, Joseph forgives his brothers. Gen. 45:4 And Joseph said unto his brethren, Come near to me, I pray you. And they came near. And he said, I am Joseph your brother, whom ye sold into Egypt. 5 Now therefore be not grieved, nor angry with yourselves, that ye sold me hither: for God did send me before you to preserve life.
There was a lot for Joseph to forgive here, yet he could see that it was God who had directed his life and turned everything to the good for Joseph personally. He also preserved a nation from starvation. God made his enemies be at peace with him and better yet, Joseph was also at peace with his enemies who were now restored, brothers.
Truly the Psalmist says it right in Psalm 23:5 You prepare a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: You anoint my head with oil; my cup runs over. This is our portion of a full cup when we are walking in a way that pleases the Lord. We will live in peace even though there are enemies in our lives, whether they are spiritual or natural enemies. Deut. 28:7 The LORD shall cause thine enemies that rise up against thee to be smitten before thy face: they shall come out against thee one way, and flee before thee seven ways.
This does not mean we will never encounter problems or demonic attacks, but it means we will have the confidence in our God who will help us with the battle these protagonists bring. Deut. 20:4 For the LORD your God is He that goes with you, to fight for you against your enemies, to save you. The fact that we are believing, by faith, that God is our ever-present-help is pleasing to God and He will go to war and fight the enemies of our lives. God will rebuke the devourer for our sakes and restore what was taken from us. 2 Kings 17:39 But the LORD your God ye shall fear; and he shall deliver you out of the hand of all your enemies.
This does not mean we will never encounter problems or demonic attacks, but it means we will have the confidence in our God who will help us with the battle these protagonists bring. Deut. 20:4 For the LORD your God is He that goes with you, to fight for you against your enemies, to save you. The fact that we are believing, by faith, that God is our ever-present-help is pleasing to God and He will go to war and fight the enemies of our lives. God will rebuke the devourer for our sakes and restore what was taken from us. 2 Kings 17:39 But the LORD your God ye shall fear; and he shall deliver you out of the hand of all your enemies.
The blessing of this incredible benefit from God is that we can count on the Lord to take this fight of the destruction of our enemies to the very end. Death is the last enemy we will contend within our lifetime. 1 Cor. 15:26 The last enemy that shall be destroyed is death. The finished work of the cross of Jesus Christ has consumed our eternal death and all the fears that come with it. The Psalmist says that we will be guided even unto death. Psalm 48:14 For this God is our God for ever and ever: He will be our guide even unto death.
We now have victory over death and will be guided through this process that can overwhelm us and cause fearful thoughts from this last enemy. The Lord encourages us not to fear this enemy because He has overcome death for us. 1 Cor. 15:55 O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory?
When a man’s ways please the LORD, He makes even his enemies to be at peace with him. What an amazing salvation we have that death our last enemy has been defeated by the cross and blood of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Rev. 1:8 I am he that lives, and was dead; and, behold, I am alive for evermore, Amen; and have the keys of hell and of death.
We now have victory over death and will be guided through this process that can overwhelm us and cause fearful thoughts from this last enemy. The Lord encourages us not to fear this enemy because He has overcome death for us. 1 Cor. 15:55 O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory?
When a man’s ways please the LORD, He makes even his enemies to be at peace with him. What an amazing salvation we have that death our last enemy has been defeated by the cross and blood of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Rev. 1:8 I am he that lives, and was dead; and, behold, I am alive for evermore, Amen; and have the keys of hell and of death.
Lord, we ask in Jesus name, that you continue to remind us of your powerful work that was done in our hearts and in our lives. Lord, you have saved us from the deceptions of the enemy. You, LORD, alone have defeated all our enemies – including death – and we are grateful. Amen.
This is a difficult situation for you and the first thing I would say is that God is right there with you. Psalm 12:5 For the oppression of the poor, for the sighing of the needy, now will I arise, saith the LORD.
I had a situation in the mid 1980's when a millionaire stole $3500.00 from me right at the time we were buying our first home and we were stretched. This blow to our finances caused us great hardship at the time. I asked God what to do and the Scripture that popped into my head was Matt.5:44 pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you. I did not want to pray for this man who had caused my wife and I such grief. Throughout the morning I kept hearing that Scripture and I started praying but I knew there was no sincerity in my prayer. I was going through the motion but there was no heart in it. After five hours of this wrestling and trying to pray I heard in my spirit these words. If a millionaire has to take $3500.00 from you then he is in and has more problems then you will ever have. For the first time that day I could pray for this man out of a true and sincere heart. I do not know why this was possible but it was and I found my peace and faith. The next day a miracle happened as a company sent me a list of companies that needed my service and these companies were desperate and needed me immediately. We more the made up the $3500.00 in a very short time and were able to go ahead with our home buying plans. The best part is that three years later I was able to site down with the millionaire and we resolved the $3500.00 and I was paid back in full. I know that this testimony does nothing for your present situation but I know that God has your answer.
How do I forgive someone who has stolen from my family and has caused hardship to the point of declaring personal bankruptcy? Where is God in this?