Prophetic Ministries Today

It is difficult, at best, to allow God to punish those who have wrongfully accused or abused us. At today’s strenuous pace, it becomes more difficult to inhibit the desire to fight back; however, this is what is expected of us as Christians. With all the changes in our new high-tech society, we find more violence in our streets. It has reached the point where even the majority of the body of Christ feels they are justified by getting even with those who so much as speak evil of them. How far we have drifted from the greatest commandment Jesus has given the church.

And you shall love the LORD your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all your strength. This is the first commandment. And the second, like it, is this: “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” There is no other commandment greater than these. Mark 12:30,31

I am one who believes in the full gospel message: meaning that I believe the entire Bible not just parts of it. This does not mean however, that I can take the parts I like from the Old Testament and override what is recorded in the New. We must recognize and accept the fact that what is written in the Old Covenant is not always acceptable practice for us today. The most difficult commandment that Jesus left us with is “Do unto others as you would have them do unto you.”

"Therefore, whatever you want men to do to you, do also to them, for this is the Law and the Prophets.” Matthew 7:12

This commandment is also known as the golden rule or the law of the Prophets. Many have forgotten this commandment of the Lord’s and the results have turned our nation into a country full of rage. Through my travels to other countries, I have found it interesting how others size up the United States of America. The one and foremost view expressed is that we are a violent nation. This saddens me and I have to admit, compared to the others countries I have visited our culture is much more violent.

Now we may not be able to change the whole nation single handily, but we can change our own attitudes and in effect be in compliance with the commandments of the Lord. It is of the devil to try and defend ourselves when we are at odds with others, foreign or domestic. When we are accused, we should immediately turn the problem over to the Lord and forget about it. I know that is very hard to do; however, when we give our frustrations, hurts and emotions over to the Lord He will defend us. We also need to be prepared to guard ourselves with patience, for the Lord is slow to repay. His long-suffering is extended to everyone, not just us. He will exhaust all opportunity for any person to do what is right before He exercise His wrath and we should express that same long-suffering toward others.

But let your “Yes” be “Yes,” and your “No,” “No.” For whatever is more than these is from the evil one. You have heard that it was said, “An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth.” But I tell you not to resist an evil person. But whoever slaps you on your right cheek, turn the other to him also. Matthew 5:37-39

The most powerful weapon we have is to show the love of Christ. When the heathen is loved instead of hated, it confuses his poor spirit and torments his soul. If we really want to do harm to someone who is trying to hurt us, then we should love him or her - not superficially or in a manner that is plastic and obviously not from the heart. We must be real in our expression of love, showing our concern for their needs and always asking for their forgiveness. If we really want to bring down the avenger, we must make this our battle plan.

If your enemy is hungry, give him bread to eat; And if he is thirsty, give him water to drink; For so you will heap coals of fire on his head, and the LORD will reward you. Proverbs 25:21,22