Payback

Goodmorning and welcome in everyone.  Today, we are going to take a look at a passage of scripture, from Luke 18.

Luke 18:1-8  And he spake a parable unto them to this end, that men ought always to pray, and not to faint;  Saying, There was in a city a judge, which feared not God, neither regarded man:  And there was a widow in that city; and she came unto him, saying, Avenge me of mine adversary.  And he would not for a while: but afterward he said within himself, Though I fear not God, nor regard man;  Yet because this widow troubleth me, I will avenge her, lest by her continual coming she weary me.

And the Lord said, Hear what the unjust judge saith.  And shall not God avenge his own elect, which cry day and night unto him, though he bear long with them?  I tell you that he will avenge them speedily.

In our general human nature, when somebody hurts us we want to hurt them right back.  When a child gets hit on the playground at school, they normally want to hit right back.  The Apostle Paul taught church members to suffer, and resist not evil, even when people wanted to take you to court.  Those who suffer patiently, I guarantee Jesus will certainly avenge them.  

1 Corinthians 6:6-8  But brother goeth to law with brother, and that before the unbelievers. Now therefore there is utterly a fault among you, because ye go to law one with another. Why do ye not rather take wrong? why do ye not rather suffer yourselves to be defrauded?  Nay, ye do wrong, and defraud, and that your brethren.

If someone defrauds you, they take something away from you or stop you from having what belongs to you.  In a marriage your spouse’s body belongs to you and you’re not supposed to defraud them of a sexual relationship because it is rightfully theirs according to the Word of God.

1 Corinthians 7:3-5  Let the husband render unto the wife due benevolence: and likewise also the wife unto the husband.  The wife hath not power of her own body, but the husband: and likewise also the husband hath not power of his own body, but the wife.  Defraud ye not one the other, except it be with consent for a time, that ye may give yourselves to fasting and prayer; and come together again, that Satan tempt you not for your incontinency.

Denial of sexual rights in the bedroom, is to deny love for your spouse.  To deny love in a marriage is to deny everything that God is.  He that loveth not knoweth not God.  Paul warned the church about this kind of behavior.  If this happens, it’s not you that they will have to deal with, but Jesus, because vengeance belongs to Him.

1 Thessalonians 4:6  That no man go beyond and defraud his brother in any matter: because that the Lord is the avenger of all such, as we also have forewarned you and testified.

Mark 10:19  Thou knowest the commandments, Do not commit adultery, Do not kill, Do not steal, Do not bear false witness, Defraud not, Honour thy father and mother.

To avenge yourself means to pay back or cause somebody else to suffer because of insult, injury, or other wrong.  It’s a response to an act of harm or perceived injustice.  Some synonyms are reprisal, retaliation, and retribution. 

Romans 12:19. Dearly beloved, avenge not yourselves, but rather give place unto wrath: for it is written, Vengeance is mine; I will repay, saith the Lord.

This is exactly what God did to Pharaoh when he kept resisting and hardening his heart to God’s commands.  He poured out vengeance upon Pharoah and the Egyptians, turning their water to blood, and sending out plagues and pestilence across the land.  The things that Pharoah wanted against the first born of Israel, God brought right back upon his own first born son.  He even destroyed his army in the Red Sea. The battle truly belongs to the Lord, as we wait patiently.  To Him belongeth vengeance and the day of their punishment is near.

Deuteronomy 32:35  To me belongeth vengeance, and recompence; their foot shall slide in due time: for the day of their calamity is at hand, and the things that shall come upon them make haste.

Christians are called to be passive, which is accepting or allowing what evils happen or what others do, without active response or resistance.  Christians are called into suffering, but Jesus will avenge.

Matthew 5:39  But I say unto you, That ye resist not evil: but whosoever shall smite thee on thy right cheek, turn to him the other also.

The Apostle James also taught non-resistance.

James 5:6  Ye have condemned and killed the just; and he doth not resist you.

The early church was suffering persecutions and tribulations, but just as punishments happened to pharaoh, God avenges the stiff necked and rebellious even now.

2 Thessalonians 1:4-9  So that we ourselves glory in you in the churches of God for your patience and faith in all your persecutions and tribulations that ye endure:

Which is a manifest token of the righteous judgment of God, that ye may be counted worthy of the kingdom of God, for which ye also suffer: Seeing it is a righteous thing with God to recompense tribulation to them that trouble you;

And the vengeance of the Lord will continue at Judgment day, when the disobedient and impenitent are punished forever.

And to you who are troubled rest with us, when the Lord Jesus shall be revealed from heaven with his mighty angels,  In flaming fire taking vengeance on them that know not God, and that obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ:  Who shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord, and from the glory of his power;

You never want to purposely rebel against God’s will.

Hebrews 10:30-31  For we know him that hath said, Vengeance belongeth unto me, I will recompense, saith the Lord. And again, The Lord shall judge his people.

It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God.

Our God is a mighty deliverer who will avenge His elect of those who perpetrate evil against them, just as He delivered Paul.

2 Timothy 4:14-18  Alexander the coppersmith did me much evil: the Lord reward him according to his works:  Of whom be thou ware also; for he hath greatly withstood our words.  At my first answer no man stood with me, but all men forsook me: I pray God that it may not be laid to their charge.   Notwithstanding the Lord stood with me, and strengthened me; that by me the preaching might be fully known, and that all the Gentiles might hear: and I was delivered out of the mouth of the lion.   And the Lord shall deliver me from every evil work, and will preserve me unto his heavenly kingdom: to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen.

When somebody does evil to you, when you have to suffer, wait for the Lord Jesus who is watching from heaven.  His vengeance is coming.

Isaiah 35:4  Say to them that are of a fearful heart, Be strong, fear not: behold, your God will come with vengeance, even God with a recompence; he will come and save you.

Ezekiel 25:17  And I will execute great vengeance upon them with furious rebukes; and they shall know that I am the LORD, when I shall lay my vengeance upon them.

Resist not evil.  Wait on the Lord, for He will deliver, and they will certainly know that day of vengeance has come upon them when the Lord has decided to give them some….

…..Payback

Let’s think about these things for right now, and Lord willing, we will talk with you some more tomorrow.  Till then, bye bye everybody. ❤️

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