Updated: Nov 3, 2021
A TUTORIAL ON EFFECTIVE SPIRITUAL WARFARE
Teaching, Training & Commissioning
Chapter 12 Episode 5
REMOVING THE OBSTACLE OF REVENGE
Jesus said, “Follow Me and I will make you fishers of men”. Jesus was literally saying, “I will fashion you, make you into, craft you into, Fishers of men”. These men would come to be known as His disciples. Jesus taught on, preached and demonstrated what He was fashioning as disciples.
These, and the future men and women who would become His disciples, would do the works that Jesus had done, and “greater works”, because Jesus had gone to the Father. Jesus told them, as His disciples, they would inherit the Kingdom of God.
However, Satan has laid traps to entice you and to snare you in order to prevent you from completing your mission. The only safe path, is to follow Jesus, very closely.
Jesus made it clear that if you choose to follow Him, you will have to pay the price of a disciple, and that cost is high. Both the religious and secular worlds persecuted Jesus and His followers because of His teachings. And, they will persecute you, too, if you choose to be His disciple.
Jesus came to show us the way to Life, and He warned that the gate is small and the way that leads to life is both narrow and difficult, and there are few who find it.
These next episodes will lead you to the “small gate which is narrow” and we will continue to identify the obstacles to our transformation for their removal from your life.
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For our convenience, I have coded the Obstacle in green, the penalty in purple and the Remedy in Blue.)
Episode 5: Removing the Obstacle of Revenge requires practicing Non-resistance
Matthew 5:38-42 says, “You have heard that it was said, ‘AN EYE FOR AN EYE, AND A TOOTH FOR A TOOTH.’
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But I say to you, do not resist an evil person; but whoever slaps you on your right cheek, turn the other to him also. “If anyone wants to sue you and take your shirt, let him have your coat also. “Whoever forces you to go one mile, go with him two. “Give to him who asks of you, and do not turn away from him who wants to borrow from you.”
“Entitlement”, lust and vengeance are snares of Satan. He convinces a person that they are entitled to ‘their fair share’ in life, and they should receive respect, fair treatment and justice. And when we are denied our ‘fair share’ to which we are entitled, we lust and seek revenge – and this is the trap.
But, God says none of us are entitled. And, none of us are righteous – no, not even one of us – we all have sinned and fall short of His Glory.
Each one of us have been tempted when we were carried away and enticed by our own lusts, and, when lust was conceived, it gave birth to sin; and when sin is accomplished, it brings forth death. We are entitled to death.
It is only because Jesus has borne our sins and by His completed work on the Cross, are we set free from the snares of death. And, we are entitled – not to take, but to give – respect, fair treatment, justice, honesty and kindness to others.
Again, a teaching of Jesus seems counter-intuitive and can test the soul of even the most dedicate man or woman. It is difficult to understand – unless you are willing.
At first glance, this teaching sounds as if a disciple of Jesus is to stand idly by while an evil person slaps you about and perpetrates all kinds of evil against you and in your presence. But, what Jesus is telling us is, not to entangle yourselves in the affairs of evil men, even when they cast their evil upon us. Instead, stay focused on Jesus’ Mission while actively responding to evil, by overcoming evil with good.
Secondly, God’s Word and methods are an intricate balance of mercy and justice, something we rarely see anymore. Once you have “paid the debt” of forgiveness and kindness, do not linger. If an evil person continues in his or her evil ways, “Shake the dust off your sandals”, so to speak, and move on. Do not fall for the snare of entangling yourself in vengeance.
James 4:7-8, teaches this principal and its practice when he says, “ Submit therefore to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you. Draw near to God and He will draw near to you.”
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f you are drawn into this trap and snared by it, you are no longer free to follow Jesus because of the things that so easily entangle us. Do not fall of the bait of Satan.
Galatians 5 :1 tells us that, “It was for freedom that Christ set us free; therefore keep standing firm and do not be subject again to a yoke of slavery.”
Please click this link and go to “Resist not Evil” for a deeper teaching on this matter.
Your Brother and Friend,
Mike Young
Please remember to click the blue italicized links in each chapter, in order to get the important details on these Bible teachings)
Please bookmark this page and watch for our next chapter, “Removing the Obstacle of Hate” (The previous episode can be found at “Secrecy and Lies”)
(Please also notice, you can listen by podcast as you read along. You can pause the audio in order to click the links for details and references, which are necessary for the entire teaching)