Goodmorning and welcome in everyone. Today, we are going to take a look at a passage of scripture, but before we do that, I wanted to share something with you.
When I was in middle school, some of the children didn’t keep locks on their lockers. Sometimes to be mean, the older children would bring an extra padlock from home, and maliciously put it on someones locker so they couldn’t get into it, even taking the key and throwing it into the garbage. As the morning bell rang, some of the children would point their fingers and laugh at the student who was locked out, trying to get a rise out of them. Because they couldn’t access their homework and pencils, they had to waste half an hour trying to find a janitor to come and cut the lock off so they could get to class. Instead of figuring out some way to get back at them, they simply chose to suffer it.
This reminds me of the Christian Life.
As a Christian, we are not supposed to return evil for evil. When someone wrongs us, we are not supposed to wrong them back. We are not to be overcome of evil, but overcome evil with good.
1 Peter 4:1-5 Forasmuch then as Christ hath suffered for us in the flesh, arm yourselves likewise with the same mind: for he that hath suffered in the flesh hath ceased from sin; That he no longer should live the rest of his time in the flesh to the lusts of men, but to the will of God. For the time past of our life may suffice us to have wrought the will of the Gentiles, when we walked in lasciviousness, lusts, excess of wine, revellings, banquetings, and abominable idolatries: Wherein they think it strange that ye run not with them to the same excess of riot, speaking evil of you: Who shall give account to him that is ready to judge the quick and the dead.
When we talk about suffering, it means to bear pain, to bear burdens, or to bear hurt, because of the evil actions that someone else does to you. It doesn’t feel good when someone sins against you. It hurts. But Jesus suffered on the cross to bear our sins upon Himself, and you have to arm yourselves with that same mind, not returning evil for evil, and not avenging yourself.
Hebrews 12:2-4 Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God. For consider him that endured such contradiction of sinners against himself, lest ye be wearied and faint in your minds.
Ye have not yet resisted unto blood, striving against sin.
We are supposed to arm ourselves with the same mindset as Jesus. In the military when you go into battle what happens? Sometimes you are going to get shot! Someone might shoot you in the leg or in the foot. When it happens, it hurts, and it causes you to suffer. This is the same life that we are called to as Christians. We are not supposed to avenge ourselves, but enter into the sufferings of the Lord.
1 Corinthians 4:12 ……being reviled, we bless; being persecuted, we suffer it:
We enter into sufferings because of the evils perpetrated against us, but when we resist the urge to fight back, we have ceased from sin. The automatic reaction when someone does something wrong to us is to want to get back at the other person, and to do something malicious to them, but there is an old saying, the buck stops here. We want to be bigger than that, and return evil with good. Entering into suffering doesn’t mean that we are weak, but quite the contrary, because it takes far more strength to suffer, than it does to return evil.
1 Peter 2:21-24 For even hereunto were ye called: because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that ye should follow his steps: Who did no sin, neither was guile found in his mouth: Who, when he was reviled, reviled not again; when he suffered, he threatened not; but committed himself to him that judgeth righteously:
Who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes ye were healed.
Jesus died on the cross, not for own His sins, but because of those that were committed against Him. Completely innocent, He was placed on a cross and suffered a punishment that was reserved for wicked criminals. The Lord Jesus Christ, by whom all things were created, could have destroyed the world in the blink of an eye, but allowed Himself to suffer, and Christians are called to the same life.
Philippians 1:29 For unto you it is given in the behalf of Christ, not only to believe on him, but also to suffer for his sake;
When you get shot in a fire fight, you must learn to take the pain inflicted from the enemy. Christians must learn to do the same. Pilate marveled when Jesus didn’t speak a word as others were accusing Him. Its forbidden for Christians to go to law in earthly courtrooms, but allow yourself to suffer, even being defrauded. God will certainly take care of the rest because the battle belongs to Him.
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.
James 2:6 ………..Do not rich men oppress you, and draw you before the judgment seats?
The normal reaction in human nature is to fight back, but the Christian must be passive, and take no action for wrongs committed against them. When you do this you are placing your faith and trust in God for deliverance. When you refuse to return wrong for wrong, then you truly have ceased from sin. People may sin against you, but you refuse to sin against them by turning the other cheek.
Matthew 5:38-39 Ye have heard that it hath been said, An eye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth: 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.
When people do evil to you, and maliciously hurt you, its extremely comforting to know who is on your side.
Luke 18:7-8 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.
Just like in the military, you must be prepared to get hurt, and learn how to suffer when it happens to you, because if they persecuted Christ they will persecute you, and Christianity is about…..
…….. Taking the Pain.
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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Teufer Lake King James Bible Church 