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church, false harmony, following Jesus, freedom, God's love, harmony, invisible church, Jesus Christ, living stones, peace, Satan, the devil, the new self, the old self
Truth unites and truth divides. If we think we can make a compromise between following Jesus and seeking to live in (false) harmony with everyone else around us, we will make a big mistake. Our Lord clearly said,
“Do not think that I have come to bring peace to the earth. I have not come to bring peace, but a sword. For I have come to set a man against his father, and a daughter against her mother, and a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law. And a person’s enemies will be those of his own household. Whoever loves father or mother more than me is not worthy of me, and whoever loves son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me. And whoever does not take his cross and follow me is not worthy of me. Whoever finds his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life for my sake will find it.” (Mt 10:34-39 ESV)
“Whoever is not with me is against me, and whoever does not gather with me scatters.” (Mt 12:30 ESV).
These Scriptures above clarify that there will be persecution for those who decide to follow the Lord down-the-line. If we have already experienced some hatred and rejection in our lives while God enabled us to love others, we know that we were not rejected by doing the wrong thing but simply because we listened to the Lord and obeyed His guidance. If we hurt much from being rejected by the ones we love, and normally that is how we feel as human beings, Satan comes in and tries to tempt us. How so?
Our natural man wants to be loved, or at least approved, by everyone and seeks to live in harmony with others. Our spiritual nature instead, which always wars against the carnal nature, seeks to submit and surrender to God instead. Here is conflict, dear brothers and sisters! Although Jesus told us to live in peace with everyone if possible (cf. Rom 12:17-18), we know that the most peaceful person who ever lived on earth was not acknowledged by His own and was finally killed in the cruelest way on the cross in Golgotha.
So, if we truly follow the Lord, we will find ourselves being rejected again and again, not because we were so unlovable, yet because it is Christ in us who is hated by those who unknowingly submitted to the lord of this world (i.e., the devil). Our task as Christians then is to love our enemies because we know that they do not know what they do. Jesus Christ, eventually, is the One who will deal with those who reject us if they could not be won by the agape love shown to them before.
Jesus said to them, “Have you never read in the Scriptures: “‘The stone that the builders rejected has become the cornerstone; this was the Lord’s doing, and it is marvelous in our eyes’? Therefore I tell you, the kingdom of God will be taken away from you and given to a people producing its fruits. And the one who falls on this stone will be broken to pieces; and when it falls on anyone, it will crush him.” When the chief priests and the Pharisees heard his parables, they perceived that he was speaking about them. (Mt 21:42-45 ESV)
Michael said:
It is interesting how the enemy uses those closest to us to attack us as Jesus indicated in the verses you quoted, “and a man’s foes will be those of his own household.” God allows this because we have our hearts open and our guards down with those near to us and the dagger goes deep in their hands. Dying to self comes in many ways, but being wounded in the house of one’s friends is one of the most painful and effective, sad to say.
Thanks Susanne for reminding me of these scriptures today. Very timely.
Michael
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Susanne Schuberth (Germany) said:
Amen to your words, Michael. You’re very welcome as to these Scriptures.
Actually it IS painful to be attacked that way, but since we follow Jesus, we can expect to have similar experiences He had, can’t we?
Be blessed,
Susanne
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Michael said:
Yes, we his servants are not greater than our Master. What they did to Him they will do to we who are His brethren. And the time is here upon us that they who persecute us will think that they are doing God a service!
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Susanne Schuberth (Germany) said:
A very biblical response, dear Michael. And again, so true!
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Michael said:
Experiences we suffer through in His grace give depth of meaning to Bible verses. Without experience it is all empty head knowledge but with it we have hearts changed by the Living WORD, Jesus Christ.
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Susanne Schuberth (Germany) said:
Wow!! So well put, Michael! ⭐
Grasping Scripture without experience is NOT possible because only the surface opens up at first sight. Being plunged into deep sufferings AND experiencing God ‘s resurrection power and love afterwards, instead, makes us want to share in His sufferings. Why? Because we finally love Him with the love He has loved us before.
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Michael said:
YESSS! Susanne, you nailed it here. Like that saying goes, “Real love runs toward pain.” If we love someone we want the full depth of what they suffer as our own. Paul had that love with Jesus and we are growing into it as we suffer in this life… it drives us into His heart.
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Susanne Schuberth (Germany) said:
Amen, amen, amen, Michael!
Let’s keep growing… 😉
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Michael said:
Mia, this was really well put as you describe how God has saved you and very honest. We are nothing but lowly sinners at best, but Christ comes in and makes His abode in us and then the “house” gets to share His glory after He has done a deep cleansing work in it, a work that seems to continue to go deeper and deeper. Thanks for sharing your story on here.
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Michael said:
Reblogged this on A Wilderness Voice and commented:
I find that this article by Susanne Schuberth to be a very timely warning and it explains a lot about how the enemy comes at us the more we seek to love as Jesus loves.
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Susanne Schuberth (Germany) said:
That was a real surprise this morning, Michael. Sitting at the hairdresser, I usually use my cell phone and check my own blogs first. Today I felt a nudge to click on ‘A Wilderness Voice’ before. Indeed, in the first instance I thought that I unintentionally hit the wrong button and was on EPL instead since I saw the “sandy” pic I had posted on mine. However, as I realized that it was a reblog from you which the Lord wanted to show me before, I rejoiced. 😀
Thank you so much, my dear brother!!! ❤
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Michael said:
You are welcome, Susanne. 🐻
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Susanne Schuberth (Germany) said:
Very well put, Michael! 🙂
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Susanne Schuberth (Germany) said:
Ha! Now I know what you mean, was confused for a few moments. I think you were searching for this reply of yours on my latest post https://enteringthepromisedland.wordpress.com/2015/08/22/heaven-and-hell-lets-talk-about-the-latter/comment-page-1/#comment-11889, right? 😉
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