LOVING YOUR ENEMIES
Life is full of ups and downs, much like the balance of a scale where one side is elevated while the other is lowered. One inevitable challenge we face in life is dealing with enemies. Enemies are often perceived as those who harbor hatred and ill intentions towards us, and we might mistakenly believe they are witches, wizards, or individuals influenced by evil. In this blog post, we will explore the concept of enemies and how believers can respond to them, adhering to the teachings and example set by Jesus.
Who Is an Enemy?
An enemy, also referred to as a foe, is someone who demonstrates hostility, hatred, opposition, or an intention to cause harm to another person. Enemies are those who, for various reasons, want nothing to do with someone else. Enemies can be found in various aspects of life, including home, workplace, and even within the church and family. It may come as a surprise, but enemies can also exist in religious communities, as exemplified in the Bible.
For instance, in Numbers 16:1-3, a group of individuals opposed Moses and Aaron, challenging their leadership and God's divine plan. Enemies can be found in unexpected places, including within the church. They are individuals committed to opposing, persecuting, and inflicting pain on their victims. Despite their actions, Jesus calls all believers to love their enemies and pray for those who persecute them, as mentioned in Matthew 5:42.
How Do I Love My Enemies?
Loving your enemies may seem challenging, especially when they have wished harm upon you or caused you pain. However, through Christ's strength, we can overcome this difficulty. Philippians 4:13 reminds us that we can do all things through Christ who strengthens us. To love our enemies, we must follow the teachings of Jesus, which include:
1. Praying for Them: Praying for your enemies, even when they have caused you harm, is essential. Many times, our enemies act under the influence of the devil. By praying for them out of love rather than anger, we can help them break free from this malevolent influence. Just as you pray for yourself, include them in your daily prayers.
2. Responding in Love: Demonstrating love to your enemies can melt their hearts and lead to transformation. Responding in love can be powerful and can help bring out the best in your enemies, just as in the parable of the Good Samaritan, who assisted his injured enemy, an Israelite.
3. Maintaining a Good Attitude: Negative attitudes can fuel your enemies' strength and perpetuate the cycle of animosity. Avoid being harsh or confrontational with them. Instead, show kindness and use God's wisdom in your interactions.
4. Trusting the Holy Spirit: Dealing with enemies requires the guidance and assistance of the Holy Spirit. You cannot reach out to them with love, maintain a positive attitude, or respond effectively without the Holy Spirit's help. Rely on Him for the wisdom and strength you need to deal with your enemies.
Our real enemy is not who we often perceive them to be. The ultimate adversary is the devil, and we must remain vigilant against his schemes. Recognizing that those who act as enemies are influenced by the devil, we should extend our love and help to free them from this negative influence. It is the radical call of Jesus to love those who hate us, pray for them, maintain a positive attitude, and seek the guidance of the Holy Spirit in our interactions with enemies.
 |
| Image by valeria_aksakova on Freepik |
“My Father, my father! Deliver me from the hands of my enemies. Save me from them, oh Lord!
Deliver me from their snares Lord, let them enter the pit themselves”.
Whenever we are asked to pray these kinds of prayers in church, the vigor and energy at which people pray still baffles me. Many would hold their heads, many would roll on the floor, many would shout on the top of their lungs, others would sweat as if they are been chased by their enemies. Some would even start mentioning the names of their enemies as if the enemies were with them in the prayer session. If it was to be a call to pray for the nation, the morale would be kind of low but if it was a call to pray over our enemies, we would get the energy even if we are tired.
Many go to mountains for days and the only prayer requests is “God kill my enemies”. Yet in all of these mountainous prayers and fasting, enemies no dey finish. You fight one today, another go rise, why because we are targeting the wrong prey. Praying that God should destroy our enemies which are probably our neighbors, our office partners, and others, is not bad but we shouldn't leave the original prey at hand and focus on the wrong ones.
When someone portrays himself/herself as your enemy, they are being influenced by a higher force and not by their will. The one who is instigating these people to be who they are towards us is the devil. He is the force behind all of these actions of the people who considered as our enemies. In the order of creation, spirit beings needs a house to be in operation and this was why God gave Adam and Eve a house called the Body. So the devil as a spirit, knowing this truth needs a body to perpetrate his evil actions and he goes into empty bodies that is bodies void of the spirit of God.
While in these bodies, he uses and influences them to do all that we see them so to us. It is not their nature, but they are being instigated by the one occupying their body. And this is why Jesus called out to all believers in the scriptures that love your enemies and pray for those who curses you.
 |
| Image by fxquadro on Freepik |
This is so because our Master knew that the original enemy is not those people in our neighborhood, but the one who has been casted out of heavens.
1Pet.5.8 - Be well balanced (temperate, sober of mind), be vigilant and cautious at all times; for that enemy of yours, the devil, roams around like a lion roaring [in fierce hunger], seeking someone to seize upon and devour.
This scripture is the underlying factor that people who makes themselves our enemies are not the ones we should fight but rather, we should love them and pray for them as Jesus Christ has commanded.
Luke 6:35- “Love your enemies! Do good to them! Lend to them! And don’t be concerned about the fact that they won’t repay. Then your reward from heaven will be very great, and you will truly be acting as sons of God: for he is kind to the unthankful and to those who are very wicked.
Having this understanding, we should know that we don't need to lay curses on people who poses as our enemies, instead we should do these;
1. LOVE.
This is the number one instruction towards them who poses as our enemies. Don't hate them, instead love them as Jesus Christ has commanded. It can be very hard to love one who hates us but our perfect example of God showed us this.
While he was been beaten, he never cursed them instead he showed them love.
So as His disciples, we must endeavor to show love in return of the hatred we receive from them.
Our love to them will cause them a change of heart and before we know it, they would want to forsake their evil ways.
2. PRAY
Love us in our actions and responses to their actions while prayer is our projection towards their spirit. Instead of trying to fight them with words of our mouth physically, let's take it to the realm of the spirit where we tackle their spirit that has been occupied.
Don't exchange words with them, exchange words with them on your knees and win them over in prayers.
3. GIVING
A long time ago while I was still young but I knew the right from wrongs. My guardians has a friend whose wife hated my guardian’s wife because she felt she had everything she did not which was not true. She would say bad things behind her and laugh at her face, which my guardian's wife knew about.
Instead of her retaliating, she would give her things, many times this woman would come over and she would eat like she owned the house. One day I asked my guardian why she is doing that when she knew that woman hated her, she would always respond that “ it is not her fault, she does not know what she is doing”.
Feed your enemies, give them food, cloth them, and let them see that indeed you are not like them. Don't give without willingness, give to them willingly from your heart.
 |
| Image by rawpixel.com on Freepik |
Enemies are inevitable as long as the devil is still roaming and as long as we have empty bodies void of the spirit of God. They will always exists and they will always be instigated against us.
Instead of retaliating, love, pray and give to them. Don't lay curses on them, let it be evident to them that you are not like them.
Embracing Radical Love
Introduction
In a world often marked by division and strife, Christians are called to a higher standard—a standard rooted in the concept of radical love. Radical love, as taught by Jesus Christ, transcends societal norms and challenges believers to embody a love that is transformative, sacrificial, and all-encompassing. Let's explore the profound nature of radical love, drawing inspiration from the timeless wisdom found in the Bible.
1. The Foundation of Love: God's Commandments
The foundation of radical love is laid in God's commandments. In Matthew 22:37-39 (NIV), Jesus declares, "Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind... Love your neighbor as yourself." Here, Jesus underscores the inseparable connection between love for God and love for others.
2. Transformative Power of Love: Romans 12:2
Radical love is not conforming to the patterns of this world but transforming through a renewed mind. Romans 12:2 (NIV) urges believers, "Do not conform to the pattern of this world but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is—his good, pleasing, and perfect will." This transformation is fueled by radical love.
3. Sacrificial Love: John 15:13
Jesus epitomized radical love through sacrificial actions. John 15:13 (NIV) states, "Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one's life for one's friends." As Christians, we are called to emulate this sacrificial love in our relationships, communities, and workplaces.
4. Love Beyond Boundaries: Galatians 3:28
Radical love knows no boundaries. Galatians 3:28 (NIV) affirms, "There is neither Jew nor Gentile, neither slave nor free, nor is there male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus." In practicing radical love, we break down societal divisions and embrace the inherent equality of all believers in Christ.
5. Enemy Love: Matthew 5:44
Perhaps the most radical aspect of Christian love is loving one's enemies. In Matthew 5:44 (NIV), Jesus challenges us, "But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you." This counter-cultural concept calls us to extend love even when faced with animosity.
6. Compassionate Action: James 2:15-16
Radical love is not merely a sentiment; it demands compassionate action. James 2:15-16 (NIV) illustrates this, saying, "Suppose a brother or a sister is without clothes and daily food. If one of you says to them, 'Go in peace; keep warm and well fed,' but does nothing about their physical needs, what good is it?" True love is reflected in tangible deeds.
Conclusion
In a world yearning for compassion and unity, Christians are uniquely positioned to be bearers of radical love. Grounded in the teachings of Jesus and supported by the unchanging truths of the Bible, radical love challenges us to transcend societal norms, break down barriers, and, above all, reflect the transformative love of Christ in every aspect of our lives. As we navigate this journey of faith, may we be guided by the words of 1 Corinthians 16:14 (NIV): "Do everything in love."
Follow us on our socials!
Thanks Sir
ReplyDeleteThanks Sir
ReplyDelete