10/02/09

How to deal with your enemies

Matthew 5:44 - But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you;

The Bible is really awesome when you dig into every word of it. We do so many foolish things without understanding and think that we are following God's Word. Then we find that we are not receiving or seeing results we expect.

In many of the mails I have highlight the importance of understanding the TVM (Tone Voice Mood) of the verbs of the Greek language to really understand God's instruction. Many of us close the door and pray for our enemies and think we are following God's instructions as in Matthew 5:44.

If you examine the TVM in the scripture of the verbs love (love your enemies), bless (bless them) and do (do good to them) they have the TVM < 5720 > (Present, Active, Imperative). Which means to do immediately or at that time, to do it physically (not spiritually) and to show it. Not to do it in hiding and expect something good to come out of it.

This is to your enemies that curse and hate you. The verb curse has the same TVM < 5720 > which means those who express their evil feelings physically towards you. Also the verb hate (them that hate you) and use have TVM < 5723> (Present, Active, Participle) which also means the same (Participle define doing or did - ing or ed).

Praying is done only for those who despitefully use and persecute you. The verb use and persecute also have the TVM < 5723 >. The verb pray has the TVM < 5737 > (Present, Middle or Passive Deponent, Imperative). The imperative mood corresponds to the English imperative, and expresses a command to the hearer to perform a certain action by the order and authority of the one commanding.

That means our prayer should not be 'Lord please bless this person, prosper him / her' etc… In fact our prayer should be like this 'you spirit and soul that dwells in this person, in authority given by my Lord Jesus Christ I come against you to destroy all your doings. I command you in the Name of Jesus to keep peace and I bind all your doings by the authority given unto me.'

Follow instructions and reap the harvest in the Lord.


[ Prayer Starter ]

Father God, I thank You for the detail instructions which You have given us in your Word. That we may follow it and show ourselves as your children, thus receive the blessings as your children. Give us wisdom and discernment during every situation so that we may do the right thing and come out glorious. I ask this in Jesus' Name, Amen.

[ Reference Scriptures ]

Matthew 5:43-45
43 Ye have heard that it hath been said, Thou shalt love thy neighbour, and hate thine enemy.
44 But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you;
45 That ye may be the children of your Father which is in heaven: for he maketh his sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust.

The Word of God was given free to us, therefore we should also share it freely with others. (All rights are with God)