WHO CONTROLS YOUR HEART?
Good Morning,
I recently spent some "Morning Moment" time on trusting the Lord with our enemies, not lifting our hands against the Lord's anointed, and on similar thoughts. Reading today, I find more Scripture on the same subject.
Romans 12:14 “Bless them which persecute you: bless, and curse not.”
vs. 17 "Recompense to no man evil for evil. Provide things honest in the sight of all men.”
vs. 18 “If it be possible, as much as lieth in you, live peaceably with all men.”
vs. 19 “Dearly beloved, avenge not yourselves, but rather give place unto wrath: for it is written, Vengeance is mine; I will repay, saith the Lord.”
vs. 20 “Therefore if thine enemy hunger, feed him; if he thirst, give him drink: for in so doing thou shalt heap coals of fire on his head.”
vs. 21 “Be not overcome of evil, but overcome evil with good.”
The Romans 12 text is rich in instruction, take time to look through it as I do not have time here to do any justice at all to the passage.
The text, "Be not overcome of evil" is our subject this morning. We see here that God does not wish His children to be at war, to attempt to get even, or to retaliate. Here is the reason; "Be not overcome of evil." If the evil people around you can influence you to return their evil deeds, they then take control. If someone hurts you, and you focus on repaying their wrong deed, that evil person is controlling your behavior.
The Lord says that we should not allow evil to overcome us. If your actions make me hate you, then you are controlling me. If your actions cause my heart to be filled with bitterness or vengeance, then you are in control of my heart. The Lord does not want us to have anyone but Him in control of our heart and mind.
The Bible says more on the subject.
Job spoke of his own spirit toward his enemies:
Job 31:29 “If I rejoiced at the destruction of him that hated me, or lifted up myself when evil found him:”
vs. 30 “Neither have I suffered my mouth to sin by wishing a curse to his soul.”
Much of our New Testament brings up the subject as well.
Matthew 5:44 “But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you;”
1 Thessalonians 5:15 “See that none render evil for evil unto any man; but ever follow that which is good, both among yourselves, and to all men.”
Peter writes of the Lord being our example.
1 Peter 2:23 “Who, when he was reviled, reviled not again; when he suffered, he threatened not; but committed himself to him that judgeth righteously:”
1 Peter 3:9 “Not rendering evil for evil, or railing for railing: but contrariwise blessing; knowing that ye are thereunto called, that ye should inherit a blessing.”
Having a Christlike spirit is no easy task; it requires a spirit that is stronger than our flesh. That last verse (1 Peter 3:9) speaks of a blessing or reward we will receive when we are able to treat enemies as the Lord did. We must understand that loving our enemies takes a crucified flesh and a spirit in submission to the Lord.
Pastor