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Supernatural Persecutions (continued)
The thing is that even Jesus said in Matt 5:12 "Rejoice, and be exceeding glad: for great is your reward in heaven: for so persecuted they the prophets which were before you".. but when we are under the attack, or after the attack, “rejoice” is not the first word that comes to our minds!! We are mad, sad, or offended.
It’s a learning process, because ministry time is basically attacking the enemy’s camp and he will do his best to use people around us (unfortunately Christians or non-Christians) to attack us before and after that time.
Something happened to me last year, while getting ready for the 2006 mission’s trip. And the same thing happened again, while getting ready for the 2007 mission trip.
And I begun to understand the meaning of supernatural persecution... it’s not about the person used to bring it to you, it’s the spiritual forces behind the person assaulting you. The enemy’s weapons can be “words”, “hurting words” to injure, to wound, to offend, to hurt, and to upset us.
Our “natural” response, of course, is in the flesh and it’s hard to rejoice at that time... but when the gentleness of the Holy Spirit explains us the real attack behind it, then we are able to see the situation from a distance and then we can choose (because it’s also a choice) not to be offended and give up the hurts and offenses.
The ultimate step would be having the ability to forgive the person genuinely. That’s why Jesus was able to say the following prayer. While he was on the cross, suffering physically, mentally, and spiritually, the Bible says in Matthew 23:24 “Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do.”
Thank God for the help of the precious Holy Spirit who has been given to us, to strengthen us in such times, so we can overcome the flesh by the spirit.
God has promised.... He will do it!
The people of Israel were promised deliverance through Moses. They thought that it would be easy. They believed that God spoke to Moses to be their deliverer. Moses would go to Pharaoh and Pharaoh would let them go. The story tells us that is was not so. The Bible says that Pharaoh hardened his heart and would not let them go. And the Bible says that God made Pharaoh very tough. Why would God do that? It would be easy for God to work on Pharaoh’s heart and let them go right away.
God wants to show Himself strong with signs, wonders and miracles. The Bible says: "And I will make Pharaoh's heart stubborn and hard, and multiply My signs, My wonders, and miracles in the land of Egypt." Exodus 7:3 God wants the magicians to recognize "the finger of God!" Exodus 8:19.
He said to Pharaoh: “For this very purpose have I let you live, that I might show you My power, and that My name may be declared throughout all the earth. ”' Exodus 9:16.
Our God likes, and wants, to be known for His power, because He is powerful. He wants to remind people that He is God, and that there is no one else who could match his awesomeness. When we receive promises from God, like the children of Israel, we may think, it's going to happen this way and that way, and it will be done. Not so. The Bible says that His ways are higher than our ways. And that's where we don't get it.
God has a perfect way to get us his promises, but this way is surely not the same as we “think” because we “think'” with our human brain. There is also the issue of timing. I don't know about you, but when it comes to timing, we always think that God is late. Why do we need to wait? Why is nothing happening God? I have waited and waited and waited. How long do I have to wait? Don't you see this? Aren’t you aware of that?
But let me assure you, He will never be late. And the Bible says that we will “inherit His promises through faith and patience.” Hebrews 6:12. Not only will we have to believe the promises, but we also need to wait with patience. Like the children of Israel, maybe after the first plague they said, It's a done deal, Pharaoh is going to let us go.
But not so. God had to bring the ten plagues to the Egyptians and demonstrate His power, His signs, His wonders, His miracles, and so that the children of Israel could easily "strip" the Egyptians of their riches before they left.
In my opinion, the children of Israel have possibly said, it was worth the wait. When they asked the Egyptians their “riches”, they obtained everything they wanted. Then they were leaving Egypt enriched. God knew the end from the beginning. And He knows exactly the ways on how He will bring His promises to pass in our lives. When we don't understand and all seems to be not right, unjust, He knows it all. The only thing He asks of us is to believe and be patient.
For the breakthrough will surely come. No matter the circumstances. What God has promised, He will accomplish it His way and in His Time.
The best decision we will ever make is just to choose to trust Him. He is Faithful and Just. And He is working on our behalf, regardless the circumstances.