A BROTHER IN CHRIST ASKED A GREAT QUESTION:
How do you deal with people who dont believe you? Do you ignore them? People who want to accuse you of things but don't believe you when you defend yourself.
Answer: The short answer...You don't.
So what do you do?
Let's go to the text, but first, stop and pray, ask the Holy Spirit to speak to your heart as you read the Word that you may receive it with power, deep conviction, and the Holy Spirit.
Psalm 69
1Save me, O God,
for the waters have come up to my neck.
2I sink in the miry depths,
where there is no foothold.
I have come into the deep waters;
the floods engulf me.
3I am worn out calling for help;
my throat is parched.
My eyes fail,
looking for my God.
4Those who hate me without reason
outnumber the hairs of my head;
many are my enemies without cause,
those who seek to destroy me.
I am forced to restore
what I did not steal.
5You, God, know my folly;
my guilt is not hidden from you.
6Lord, the Lord Almighty,
may those who hope in you
not be disgraced because of me;
God of Israel,
may those who seek you
not be put to shame because of me.
7For I endure scorn for your sake,
and shame covers my face.
8I am a foreigner to my own family,
a stranger to my own mother’s children;
9for zeal for your house consumes me,
and the insults of those who insult you fall on me.
10When I weep and fast,
I must endure scorn;
11when I put on sackcloth,
people make sport of me.
12Those who sit at the gate mock me,
and I am the song of the drunkards.
13But I pray to you, Lord,
in the time of your favor;
in your great love, O God,
answer me with your sure salvation.
14Rescue me from the mire,
do not let me sink;
deliver me from those who hate me,
from the deep waters.
15Do not let the floodwaters engulf me
or the depths swallow me up
or the pit close its mouth over me.
16Answer me, Lord, out of the goodness of your love;
in your great mercy turn to me.
17Do not hide your face from your servant;
answer me quickly, for I am in trouble.
18Come near and rescue me;
deliver me because of my foes.
19You know how I am scorned, disgraced and shamed;
all my enemies are before you.
20Scorn has broken my heart
and has left me helpless;
I looked for sympathy, but there was none,
for comforters, but I found none.
21They put gall in my food
and gave me vinegar for my thirst.
22May the table set before them become a snare;
may it become retribution andb a trap.
23May their eyes be darkened so they cannot see,
and their backs be bent forever.
24Pour out your wrath on them;
let your fierce anger overtake them.
25May their place be deserted;
let there be no one to dwell in their tents.
26For they persecute those you wound
and talk about the pain of those you hurt.
27Charge them with crime upon crime;
do not let them share in your salvation.
28May they be blotted out of the book of life
and not be listed with the righteous.
29But as for me, afflicted and in pain—
may your salvation, God, protect me.
30I will praise God’s name in song
and glorify him with thanksgiving.
31This will please the Lord more than an ox,
more than a bull with its horns and hooves.
32The poor will see and be glad—
you who seek God, may your hearts live!
33The Lord hears the needy
and does not despise his captive people.
34Let heaven and earth praise him,
the seas and all that move in them,
35for God will save Zion
and rebuild the cities of Judah.
Then people will settle there and possess it;
36the children of his servants will inherit it,
and those who love his name will dwell there.
Ours is not to be concerned with the affairs of this world. Our inheritance is in Zion. There we will inherit all things. Here and now we are to endure suffering and persecution for righteousness sake, the sake of the cross, and the Gospel message. For how will we be raised with Christ and share in the resurrection if we do not die with Him and share in His sufferings?
Romans 15:1-13 1We who are strong ought to bear with the failings of the weak and not to please ourselves. 2Each of us should please our neighbors for their good, to build them up. 3For even Christ did not please himself but, as it is written: “The insults of those who insult you have fallen on me.”a 4For everything that was written in the past was written to teach us, SO THAT... through the endurance taught in the Scriptures and the encouragement they provide we might have hope.
(Through endurance we have hope)
5May the God who gives endurance and encouragement give you the same attitude of mind toward each other that Christ Jesus had, 6so that with one mind and one voice you may glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.
7Accept one another, then, just as Christ accepted you, in order to bring praise to God. 8For I tell you that Christ has become a servant of the Jewsb on behalf of God’s truth, so that the promises made to the patriarchs might be confirmed 9and, moreover, that the Gentiles might glorify God for his mercy. As it is written:
“Therefore I will praise you among the Gentiles;
I will sing the praises of your name.”c
10Again, it says,
“Rejoice, you Gentiles, with his people.”d
11And again,
“Praise the Lord, all you Gentiles;
let all the peoples extol him.”e
12And again, Isaiah says,
“The Root of Jesse will spring up,
one who will arise to rule over the nations;
in him the Gentiles will hope.”f
13May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.
My prayer is that you may be filled with joy and peace as you "trust" God. (Meaning walk in obedience) and by the power of the Holy Spirit (not by your own efforts) you will overflow with Hope.
THIS HAPPENED TO JESUS; LET US ALLOW JESUS TO BE OUR EXAMPLE AND TEACHER. LET'S SEE WHT JESUS DID...1 Peter 2:23 When they hurled their insults at him, he did not retaliate; when he suffered he made no threats. Instead, he entrusted himself to the one who judges justly.
THE COMMAND: Be patient and endure suffering in the strength of Christ while singing praises to God so that by your actions unbelievers may come to salvation.
THE PROMISE: Humble yourselves, therefore, under God’s mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time. Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you. Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. Resist him, standing firm in the faith, because you know that the family of believers throughout the world is undergoing the same kind of sufferings. and the God of all grace, who called you to his eternal glory in Christ, after you have suffered a little while, will Himself restore you and make you strong, steadfast, and firm. 1 Peter 5:6-10
Wooooooo, God Himself! He won't send an Angel or a servant to do it...God Himself will restore you.
May God give you knowledge with wisdom and understanding that you may live a life worthy of the calling you have received in Christ Jesus and may all your deeds bear good fruit as you grow in knowledge. May The Lord give you power from on high that He would be glorified by your life. Amen.
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