Published by admin on 09 Jul 2020 at 09:52 pm
IN EVERY THING GIVE THANKS
Not everything going on in the world is right or good, and God’s people are here for the express reason of representing Him in this evil world. What? Do we think we’re supposed to just sit back and sing Hallelujah? Do you think we Christians should stay to ourselves and let the world do its thing? It’s getting to the point where we couldn’t do that if we wanted to, because now wicked people are rising up against churches and Christians everywhere. And the Bible warned us these things would happen. Maybe we just didn’t expect it would happen so soon.
So, how should we react to all the evil happening around us? It is written in 1 Thessalonians 5:14-22,
14 Now we exhort you, brethren, warn them that are unruly, comfort the feebleminded, support the weak, be patient toward all men.
15 See that none render evil for evil unto any man; but ever follow that which is good, both among yourselves, and to all men.
16 Rejoice evermore.
17 Pray without ceasing.
18 In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.
19 Quench not the Spirit.
20 Despise not prophesyings.
21 Prove all things; hold fast that which is good.
22 Abstain from all appearance of evil.
It’s way too easy to get to thinking like the world; if someone’s rotten to me, I will be rotten to them. But we have to ask ourselves, HOW WOULD JESUS REACT? I remember one incident that really impressed me, in Luke 4:24-30,
24 And he said, Verily I say unto you, No prophet is accepted in his own country.
25 But I tell you of a truth, many widows were in Israel in the days of Elias, when the heaven was shut up three years and six months, when great famine was throughout all the land;
26 But unto none of them was Elias sent, save unto Sarepta, a city of Sidon, unto a woman that was a widow.
27 And many lepers were in Israel in the time of Eliseus the prophet; and none of them was cleansed, saving Naaman the Syrian.
28 And all they in the synagogue, when they heard these things, were filled with wrath,
29 And rose up, and thrust him out of the city, and led him unto the brow of the hill whereon their city was built, that they might cast him down headlong.
30 But he passing through the midst of them went his way,
Now, Jesus could have called upon legions of angels to protect Him, but He didn’t. He didn’t curse them or argue. In spite of all the power of the people there to hurt him, He just left the scene. Should we just be meek and mild and roll over and let wicked people destroy us? Jesus DID say if someone strikes you on the left cheek, to turn the other also, but what about the times the disciples were holed up in a room for fear of the Jews? Those are honest questions that we often ask the LORD, and there’s nothing wrong with asking.
We need to remember that Jesus gave us authority over unclean spirits. PEOPLE are not our problem when we’re possibly facing violence: the unclean spirits operating in them is the problem, but it’s not a problem for a child of God, WE HAVE AUTHORITY TO CAST THEM OUT! Now I realize, not all have been taught to walk in Godly authority. And I realize most of the disciples met violent deaths. Did they allow themselves to be killed, so as to attain to a better resurrection? That is a very strong possibility.
I can’t answer how you will react if faced with life-threatening circumstances, but as for me, I will use my authority against evil, and should God not deliver me, then I will praise and thank Him anyway, knowing it isn’t physical death that Jesus died to save me from, but ETERNAL death in the Lake of Fire.
Going back to 1 Thessalonians 5:16-19, that’s what we should be doing. We should be witnessing the saving grace of Jesus to the lost and dying, who are deceived of the devil. And you can rest assured, they’re not always going to welcome you with open arms. You can look at how they treated Jesus, who went among them healing the sick and doing good for them, and they crucified Him.
Is it possible we may have to physically defend ourselves? Yes. Should we? The answer is, Jesus came to save lives, not destroy them. But am I going to let some evil person destroy my family? Not on MY watch. I’m reminded also of a passage in the Book of Nehemiah, chapter 4:13-20,
13 Therefore set I in the lower places behind the wall, and on the higher places, I even set the people after their families with their swords, their spears, and their bows.
14 And I looked, and rose up, and said unto the nobles, and to the rulers, and to the rest of the people, Be not ye afraid of them: remember the Lord, which is great and terrible, and fight for your brethren, your sons, and your daughters, your wives, and your houses.
15 And it came to pass, when our enemies heard that it was known unto us, and God had brought their counsel to nought, that we returned all of us to the wall, every one unto his work.
16 And it came to pass from that time forth, that the half of my servants wrought in the work, and the other half of them held both the spears, the shields, and the bows, and the habergeons; and the rulers were behind all the house of Judah.
17 They which builded on the wall, and they that bare burdens, with those that laded, every one with one of his hands wrought in the work, and with the other hand held a weapon.
18 For the builders, every one had his sword girded by his side, and so builded. And he that sounded the trumpet was by me.
19 And I said unto the nobles, and to the rulers, and to the rest of the people, The work is great and large, and we are separated upon the wall, one far from another.
20 In what place therefore ye hear the sound of the trumpet, resort ye thither unto us: our God shall fight for us.
If you’re drawing close to God each day, praying and giving thanks, if destruction comes kicking down your door, God is well known to take care of His own. So, most importantly, make sure you belong to Him. Beyond that, do what the Holy Spirit leads you to do, and if you’re called upon to defend your family or neighbor, God will give you the grace to stand strong, just as He did to His children in the Old Testament.
You don’t have to run from the threat of evil, God created you to be an overcomer, not a coward. Whatever happens in the future, give thanks to God in every thing. It is written in Jeremiah 29:11-13,
11 “For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the LORD, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end.
12 Then shall ye call upon me, and ye shall go and pray unto me, and I will hearken unto you.
13 And ye shall seek me, and find me, when ye shall search for me with all your heart.”
Our job while we are yet in this earthly tabernacle, is to proclaim the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Let’s be about doing the LORD’S work! We will be here till HE says we’re done!