What happens when someone lashes out at us?
We we are attacked by another Christian or
non-Christian what is our immediate reaction?
What are we suppose to do?
When we revert to habit, the flesh, we want to fight
back or get even? Flesh and habit are the subtle tools of the enemy.
We feel the hurt; "why would someone do
this?"
We must remember the enemy attempts to intervene, he
attacks, he's the source behind it, not the attacker. Many times jealously and
hatred are involved with the attacker. It's the flesh talking and the enemy is
involved with our flesh.
We think with our reasoning why would a Christian
would do this?
This reverts back to; "do not lean on your own
understanding".
When we are attacked by a Christian we
must remember the source, it's not that individual, it's the source behind
him/her. The enemy works overtime on Christians anyway he can! If satan can get
a Christian to attack another Christian the enemy is happy.
We must never attack another.
It's extremely dangerous to attack another Christian,
the Word says if we cause another to turn away from God we are in grave danger
and destined to the road of perdition.
The scriptures tell us; if we suffer for doing right,
we are blessed.
1 Peter 3;14
1 Peter 3;14
When we are attacked by another we must place it in
Gods hands.
If we suffer for doing good we should be happy,
that's what the scriptures tell us.
If we are attacked we must wait (Psalm 37) and let the Lord take control.
If we are attacked we must say silently to ourselves;
" I rebuke you satan, go away."
Do not fear for you are an anointed one.
If we are hurt or worry, what good does it do? It
creates doubt, it causes less faith, who is behind that? We must not lean in our
own understanding.
Do not fear because the Lord will protect you, you
will be vindicated.
________
1 Peter 3;8-18
Suffering for Doing Good
8 Finally, all of you, be
like-minded, be sympathetic, love one another, be compassionate and humble.
9 Do not repay evil with evil or
insult with insult. On the contrary, repay evil with blessing, because to this
you were called so that you may inherit a blessing. 10 For,
“Whoever would love life
and see good days
must keep their tongue from evil
and their lips from deceitful speech.
and see good days
must keep their tongue from evil
and their lips from deceitful speech.
11
They must turn from evil and do good;
they must seek peace and pursue it.
they must seek peace and pursue it.
12
For the eyes of the Lord are on the
righteous
and his ears are attentive to their prayer,
but the face of the Lord is against those who do evil.”
and his ears are attentive to their prayer,
but the face of the Lord is against those who do evil.”
13 Who is going to harm you if
you are eager to do good? 14 But
even if you should suffer for what is right, you are blessed. “Do not fear their
threats; do not be frightened.” 15 But in your hearts revere Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an
answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have.
But do this with gentleness and respect, 16 keeping a clear conscience, so that those who speak maliciously against
your good behavior in Christ may be ashamed of their slander.17 For it is better, if it is God’s will, to
suffer for doing good than for doing evil. 18 For Christ also suffered once for sins, the righteous for the
unrighteous, to bring you to God. He was put to death in the body but made alive
in the Spirit.
1 Peter 4;12-19
Suffering for Being a Christian
12 Dear friends, do not be
surprised at the fiery ordeal that has come on you to test you, as though
something strange were happening to you. 13 But rejoice inasmuch as you participate in the sufferings of Christ, so
that you may be overjoyed when his glory is revealed. 14 If you are insulted because of the name of
Christ, you are blessed, for the Spirit of glory and of God rests on you.
15 If you suffer, it should not be
as a murderer or thief or any other kind of criminal, or even as a
meddler.16 However, if you suffer as
a Christian, do not be ashamed, but praise God that you bear that name.
17 For it is time for judgment to
begin with God’s household;and if it begins with us, what will the outcome be
for those who do not obey the gospel of God? 18 And,
“If it is hard for the righteous to be
saved,
what will become of the ungodly and the sinner?”
what will become of the ungodly and the sinner?”
19 So then, those who suffer
according to God’s will should commit themselves to their faithful Creator and
continue to do good.
Psalm 92;8-11
8 But You, O Lord, are on high forever.
9
For, behold, Your enemies, O Lord,
For, behold, Your enemies will perish;
All who do iniquity will be scattered.
For, behold, Your enemies will perish;
All who do iniquity will be scattered.
10
But You have exalted my horn like that of the wild ox;
I have been anointed with fresh oil.
I have been anointed with fresh oil.
11
And my eye has looked exultantly upon my foes,
My ears hear of the evildoers who rise up against me.
My ears hear of the evildoers who rise up against me.
James 1;2-18
Joy in Trials
2 My brothers and sisters, consider it nothing but
joy when you fall into all sorts of trials, 3 because you know that the testing
of your faith produces endurance. 4 And let endurance have its perfect effect,
so that you will be perfect and complete, not deficient in anything. 5 But if
anyone is deficient in wisdom, he should ask God, who gives to all generously
and without reprimand, and it will be given to him. 6 But he must ask in faith
without doubting, for the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and
tossed around by the wind. 7 For that person must not suppose that he will
receive anything from the Lord, 8 since he is a double-minded individual,
unstable in all his ways.
9 Now the believer of humble means should take pride
in his high position. 10 But the rich person’s pride should be in his
humiliation, because he will pass away like a wildflower in the meadow. 11 For
the sun rises with its heat and dries up the meadow; the petal of the flower
falls off and its beauty is lost forever. So also the rich person in the midst
of his pursuits will wither away. 12 Happy is the one who endures testing,
because when he has proven to be genuine, he will receive the crown of life that
God promised to those who love him. 13 Let no one say when he is tempted, “I am
tempted by God,” for God cannot be tempted by evil, and he himself tempts no
one. 14 But each one is tempted when he is lured and enticed by his own desires.
15 Then when desire conceives, it gives birth to sin, and when sin is full
grown, it gives birth to death. 16 Do not be led astray, my dear brothers and
sisters. 17 All generous giving and every perfect gift is from above, coming
down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or the slightest
hint of change. 18 By his sovereign plan he gave us birth through the message of
truth, that we would be a kind of first fruits of all he created.
1 Peter 3;8-18
Suffering for Doing Good
8 Finally, all of you be
harmonious, sympathetic, affectionate, compassionate, and humble. 9 Do not return evil for evil or insult for
insult, but instead bless others because you were called to inherit a
blessing. 10 For
the one who wants to love life and see good days must
keep his tongue from evil and his lips from uttering deceit.
11
And he must turn away from evil and do
good;
he must seek peace and pursue it.
he must seek peace and pursue it.
12
For the eyes of the Lord are upon the righteous and
his ears are open to their prayer.
But the Lord’s face is against those who do evil.
But the Lord’s face is against those who do evil.
13 For who is going to harm you
if you are devoted to what is good? 14 But in fact, if you happen to suffer for doing what is right, you are
blessed. But do not be terrified of them or be
shaken. 15 But
set Christ apart as Lord in your hearts and always be ready to give an answer to
anyone who asks about the hope you possess. 16 Yet do it with courtesy and respect, keeping a
good conscience, so that those who slander your good conduct in Christ may be
put to shame when they accuse you. 17 For it is better to suffer for doing good, if God wills it, than for
doing evil.
118
Because Christ also suffered once for
sins,the just for the unjust,
to bring you to God,
by being put to death in the flesh
but by being made alive in the spirit.
to bring you to God,
by being put to death in the flesh
but by being made alive in the spirit.
Psalm 37;1-20
Security of Those Who Trust in the Lord, and
Insecurity of the Wicked.
A Psalm of David.
37
Do not fret because of evildoers,
Be not envious toward wrongdoers.
Be not envious toward wrongdoers.
2
For they will wither quickly like the grass
And fade like the green herb.
And fade like the green herb.
3
Trust in the Lord and do good;
Dwell in the land and cultivate faithfulness.
Dwell in the land and cultivate faithfulness.
4
Delight yourself in the Lord;
And He will give you the desires of your heart.
And He will give you the desires of your heart.
5
Commit your way to the Lord,
Trust also in Him, and He will do it.
Trust also in Him, and He will do it.
6
He will bring forth your righteousness as the
light
And your judgment as the noonday.
And your judgment as the noonday.
7
Rest in the Lord and wait patiently for Him;
Do not fret because of him who prospers in his way,
Because of the man who carries out wicked schemes.
Do not fret because of him who prospers in his way,
Because of the man who carries out wicked schemes.
8
Cease from anger and forsake wrath;
Do not fret; it leads only to evildoing.
Do not fret; it leads only to evildoing.
9
For evildoers will be cut off,
But those who wait for the Lord, they will inherit the land.
But those who wait for the Lord, they will inherit the land.
10
Yet a little while and the wicked man will be no
more;
And you will look carefully for his place and he will not be there.
And you will look carefully for his place and he will not be there.
11
But the humble will inherit the land
And will delight themselves in abundant prosperity.
And will delight themselves in abundant prosperity.
12
The wicked plots against the righteous
And gnashes at him with his teeth.
And gnashes at him with his teeth.
13
The Lord laughs at him,
For He sees his day is coming.
For He sees his day is coming.
14
The wicked have drawn the sword and bent their
bow
To cast down the afflicted and the needy,
To slay those who are upright in conduct.
To cast down the afflicted and the needy,
To slay those who are upright in conduct.
15
Their sword will enter their own heart,
And their bows will be broken.
And their bows will be broken.
16
Better is the little of the righteous
Than the abundance of many wicked.
Than the abundance of many wicked.
17
For the arms of the wicked will be broken,
But the Lord sustains the righteous.
But the Lord sustains the righteous.
18
The Lord knows the days of the blameless,
And their inheritance will be forever.
And their inheritance will be forever.
19
They will not be ashamed in the time of evil,
And in the days of famine they will have abundance.
And in the days of famine they will have abundance.
20
But the wicked will perish;
And the enemies of the Lord will be like the glory of the pastures,
They vanish—like smoke they vanish away.
And the enemies of the Lord will be like the glory of the pastures,
They vanish—like smoke they vanish away.
Romans 5;3
And not only this, but we also exult in our
tribulations, knowing that tribulation brings about perseverance.
1 Peter 3;14
But even if you should suffer for the sake of righteousness, you are
blessed. And do not fear their intimidation, and do not be troubled.
2 Timothy 2;3
Suffer hardship with
me, as a good soldier of Christ
Jesus.
1 Peter 2;20
For what credit is there if, when you sin and are
harshly treated, you endure it with patience? But if when you do what is right
and suffer for
it you patiently endure it, this finds favor with God.
Revelation 2;10
Do not fear what you are about to suffer. Behold, the devil is about to cast some of you into prison, so that you will be tested, and you will have tribulation for ten days. Be faithful until death, and I will give you the crown of life.
Do not fear what you are about to suffer. Behold, the devil is about to cast some of you into prison, so that you will be tested, and you will have tribulation for ten days. Be faithful until death, and I will give you the crown of life.
timothy skon, Chaplain
servering others, guided by Jesus
servering others, guided by Jesus
2/4/14