Praise the Lord brother... loved your teaching, however, I tend to differ from your conclusion. Lord Jesus brought us into a new way and that is the way of love. Why would we pray for Him to break the arms of our enemies and to destroy them? We don't see that in the new covenant or any of His apostles do that, in the Scriptures. They patiently endured and overcame all that what came against them.
Please remember that we do not wrestle against flesh and blood... If we pray against anyone it ought to be against the principalities and powers and rulers of darkness of this age and the spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places that have blinded and bound the people and have made them our enemies. May the Lord give us the grace to endure and overcome and to bless our enemies. Love you.
Such a hard teaching, but so very true. Satan wants us to react in anger and violence, that puts us in his court and brings us into sin. When we love our enemy, we turn the tables on him and he doesn't know how to react.
There is an underlying theme within this portion of the teaching ("sermon") of not returning evil for evil, but instead returning good for evil. This is emphasized in 5:45 - "...For he causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous.". So, be like that. This theme can also be seen in vv. 38-42.
Wonderfully written! God bless.
Praise the Lord brother... loved your teaching, however, I tend to differ from your conclusion. Lord Jesus brought us into a new way and that is the way of love. Why would we pray for Him to break the arms of our enemies and to destroy them? We don't see that in the new covenant or any of His apostles do that, in the Scriptures. They patiently endured and overcame all that what came against them.
Please remember that we do not wrestle against flesh and blood... If we pray against anyone it ought to be against the principalities and powers and rulers of darkness of this age and the spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places that have blinded and bound the people and have made them our enemies. May the Lord give us the grace to endure and overcome and to bless our enemies. Love you.
Great post. So much to unpack and reflect upon daily. Thank you.
Such a hard teaching, but so very true. Satan wants us to react in anger and violence, that puts us in his court and brings us into sin. When we love our enemy, we turn the tables on him and he doesn't know how to react.
So much to think about! Thank you.
There is an underlying theme within this portion of the teaching ("sermon") of not returning evil for evil, but instead returning good for evil. This is emphasized in 5:45 - "...For he causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous.". So, be like that. This theme can also be seen in vv. 38-42.