08/06/2017 - PAYING GOOD WITH EVIL

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And now, here are the people of Ammon, Moab, and Mount Seir—whom You would not let Israel invade when they came out of the land of Egypt, but they turned from them and did not destroy them. 2 Chronicles 20:10

The children of Ammom and Moab were descendants of Lot, Abraham’s nephew, and his two daughters, who made him get drunk to the point of not noticing he had laid with them (Genesis 19:30-38). Those from the mountain of Seir descended from Esau (Genesis 36:8,9), Jacob’s brother; therefore they were also cousins with the Israelites. They should love those who came from Abraham, for knowing he was the chosen one of God; however, as time went by, many events took place and they started to hate the people of the Lord.

Jesus said that the enemies of men would be those from their own house (Matthew 10:36). In our land, many who call themselves christians persecuted pastors who were doing the work in a way that God approved, with signs and wonders. T.L. Osborn told that, in a certain country from Central America, the members of a church went from house to house trying to convince people not to attend his meetings, saying that the preacher was a false prophet. Lord have mercy!

The way for Israel to get to Canaan included passing by the lands of Ammom and Moab, but the Most High did not allow that to happen because those people could harm the “cousins”. So God guided His people far away from the land of the ammonites and moabites; however, now, they paid the good they had received with evil (2 Chronicles 20:11). However, who would suffer loss, seeing that, by analogy, we could say that, as Laban wasn’t able to steal from Jacob, they also would not be able to harm Israel?

We have to observe these facts so that we do not face something similar. In the same way that they wanted to cast the sons of Jacob out of the inheritance given by God, today, many not only desire our evil, but also try to prevent us from being used by the Most High. The truth is that the spirit of madness has found many naive hearts to shelter and, thus, add more wrath from God on the sins that exist in them.

We do not need to fear these people, but only pray at any sign of persecution. In truth, Jehoshaphat only went through that adversity because the Lord disapproved his attitude of presenting himself to Ahab and going to war along with him. In our lives, if we face embarrassing situations, we can believe that we have transgressed in our positions as sons, wasting the power that was given to us in things that have nothing to do with the work.

It is good when you do not provoke persecution. Thus, the Spirit of God speaks to your heart assuring there is no misbehaving from your part. Then, you can invoke the Lord, rebuke the attacks from evil and receive the victory. Jesus taught us that, in the world, we will have tribulations, for no apparent reason, but we have to obey the Lord; knowing that we will be victorious, in the same way He was (John 16:33)

Do not be scared when a strange fire appears against your life, your faith and your work in the Lord. In many cases, it will happen by a direct move from God, so that His work can grow; in others, so that you can prove Who dwells in your heart.

In Christ, with love,

R. R. Soares