MAY 20
PASTOR OLUBI JOHNSON
LOVING YOUR ENEMIES
Matthew 5:44-45; 48 NKJV
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…Therefore you shall be perfect, just as your Father in heaven is perfect.
Who are our enemies?
Our real enemies are not men. Our real enemies are Satan and his demons: principalities, powers, rulers of darkness and wicked spirits in heavenly places.
These operate through the sin nature in the carnal minds and flesh of men, and they make men hate and do evil to us (Rom. 8:6-7).
The scripture instructs us to love men, but hate the sin nature operating through them. We are not to attack men, but the sin nature and the demonic forces operating through their minds and flesh (Eph. 2:2-3).
We do this by praying for them using the blood, the Word and the power of the Holy Spirit: the weapons of our warfare (Jude 22-23; Eph. 6:11-15).
We love our enemies by praying for them and doing good to them, even when they have done evil to us: we overcome evil with good (Rom. 12:17-21).
So when men do evil to us we understand that;
– They are thirsty for right-standing. So we give them the blood of Jesus to drink by forgiving their sins (Jn. 20:23; 1Jn.1:7-2:2).
– They are hungry for right-doing. So we feed them with the flesh of the Lord Jesus, the life of God, by asking life for them (1Jn. 5:16). This is a measure of the power of God that will enable the recipient to feel more inclined to act righteously.
-We put coals of fire on their heads by praying for them in tongues, so causing the fire of the Holy Spirit to burn up the sin nature in their flesh and mind (Matt. 3:11). We then show them mercy by acts of kindness and generosity, rather than acts of vengeance.
As we do this we will love our enemies and overcome evil with good.
Now, if they respond with repentance, God will bless them. If they refuse to repent, they will fall into the hands of the Living God (Heb. 10:30-31; 12.29) and receive divine punishment.
Only God knows just how much and when to administer this punishment; you do not! His desire and intention is always to save men and not destroy them. Therefore, He gives men much time and space for repentance (Luk. 9:56).
So we are to simply pray for and do good to men, and leave the rest to God!
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