Winning the war
There is a war raging.
It is being fought with some very sophisticated weapons. One Army officer said
'we need to win the hearts and minds of the people?.
Destroying the flesh has never been and never will be the ultimate victory in any warfare.
We have to resist the lure of evil in order to win this war. The influence of the enemy is all around us. The strategy of evil is so sophisticated that many of us do not even recognise it.
I am talking about the battle for your soul.
I woke up this morning with this message heavy on my heart.
The enemy is showering us with cluster bombs of hurt, bitterness and resentment and we are not even aware of it.
He is setting the stage for the main battle for your life, gradually wearing down your potential to love and trust with bombs of disappointments, despair and hate. If you allow him, he will eventually go after every relationship you have with other people.
His strategy ? isolate and destroy
Often, all the enemy needs is one person to hurt or offend your badly, and he sets in motion a trail of hurt.
How often have you, unconsciously, shaped your emotional life and attitude on the weaknesses of other people?
When people hurt, offend or abuse you it is a demonstration of their weaknesses, which is probably a result of hurt or bad upbringing they have received. If you walk away from such a situation, taking an inner vow never to trust anyone again, building a wall of defence around yourself and hurting other people in the process.
You become a victim of other people?s weaknesses and a prime candidate of the devils strategy of ?isolate and destroy?.
You allow yourself to become isolated when you change your attitude, for the worst, as a result of evil done to you. You isolate yourself from the leading of the Holy Spirit. A heart full of bitterness and hurt is dull to the voice of God.
God loves sinners but He hates their sin. In like manner we should love all people even though we do not embrace their evil doings. Never allow the hatred in people?s hearts to infect yours.
Do you find yourself hating any people group?
Are there people close to you that have influenced your heart with evil?
The first step to breaking free is recognising you have a problem.
The antidote
Read the following scriptures slowly but aloud to yourself.
Then spend sometime asking God if there are any cluster bombs of hurt, bitterness or resentment lingering about in your heart.
If God shows you any, immediately ask for forgiveness and lay the hurt at His feet.
Then walk away with a new freedom and joy in the Lord.
Depending on how deep the hurt and bitterness has taken in you heart you may have to use this antidote several times over several weeks.
Be sure of one thing ? it works.
Romans 12:9-21 NLT (New Living Translation)
Don't just pretend that you love others. Really love them. Hate what is wrong. Stand on the side of the good. Love each other with genuine affection, and take delight in honoring each other.Never be lazy in your work, but serve the Lord enthusiastically.
Be glad for all God is planning for you. Be patient in trouble, and always be prayerful. When God's children are in need, be the one to help them out. And get into the habit of inviting guests home for dinner or, if they need lodging, for the night.If people persecute you because you are a Christian, don't curse them; pray that God will bless them. When others are happy, be happy with them. If they are sad, share their sorrow. Live in harmony with each other. Don't try to act important, but enjoy the company of ordinary people. And don't think you know it all!
Never pay back evil for evil to anyone. Do things in such a way that everyone can see you are honorable. Do your part to live in peace with everyone, as much as possible.
Dear friends, never avenge yourselves. Leave that to God. For it is written,"I will take vengeance;
I will repay those who deserve it,"
says the Lord.
Instead, do what the Scriptures say:"If your enemies are hungry, feed them.
If they are thirsty, give them something to drink,
and they will be ashamed of what they have done to you."
Don't let evil get the best of you, but conquer evil by doing good.
Live the above and you will win the war for your soul.
Your character and integrity is at stake if you don?t.