23/12/2014 - AFFLICT YOUR SOUL

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For that righteous man, dwelling among them, tormented his righteous soul from day to day by seeing and hearing their lawless deeds. 2 Peter 2.8

Lot saw the greatest banquet of sin that the sinners ever had. He saw all the region of Sodom despise sobriety, but he did not use that as an excuse to do the same. Besides not giving himself to sin, he also reproved those who did so. There are many people that are seeing the robber taking away people’s purity and dignity, but don’t do anything. Lot denounced the works of darkness, afflicting his soul every day. The righteous people today must act in the same way as those of the past.

One of the notable things in the Lord’s description of Lot is that he was righteous and had an upright soul as well. There are many who consider themselves righteous but have a soul filled with desires and filthy thoughts. These people, perhaps, would never have a homosexual relationship, but enjoy thinking about two girls or two guys together. The righteous before God should also have an upright soul. The secret is never to give in to the devil’s suggestions.

Why should God allow a righteous man to live in midst of people who are completely immoral? Lot’s neighbors were extremely perverted (Gen 18.20), but he did not let himself be contaminated by their practices. The Lord has made us the light of the world and the salt of the earth (Mt 5.13,14). If we truly have our lives before the altar of the Most High, our pure and holy procedure will help many people to straighten their ways. After all, we are living epistles of the Lord (2 Co 3.30).

The battle is between good and evil. Unfortunately, we will see many abandon the good Way to follow the evil one’s lies. Even worse than that is that in some cases, the responsibility might be ours. The enemy of our soul has the power to transform in an angel of light (2 Co 11.14), and thus, he is capable of appearing to be compassionate, supportive, and friendly. But whoever has the Spirit of God knows that this is impossible for the enemy.

Do not give truce to your spirit. Day and night, place yourself before God and denounce the operations from Satan that may come to your knowledge. However, be careful so that nobody contaminates you or drives you away from the divine presence, making you a servant of the devil. Everything that the Word condemns should not be analyzed. The demons that were sent to corrupt mankind have assistants, whose mission is to make people listen to them.

Whoever is not afflicted with the lascivious behavior of the wicked becomes responsible for their sins. One of our missions is to always be a servant of God, letting His Holy Spirit use us as victorious intercessors. If the Lord allowed you to listen or know about wrong practices, He gave you the obligation to use the divine power in prayer and finish with them. When you sit on your throne, you will undo evil with your eyes (understanding).

Pay attention to what you hear and see, for the understanding about what you should do will be ministered to you. Do not make your decisions based on what other people say, but based on what the Scriptures say. When you are lifted up by the Lord as an authority over evil, you become invincible in the fulfillment of the order that was given to you.

In Christ, with love,

R.R.Soares