by David Brenneman
“You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ But I say to you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, so that you may be sons of your Father who is in heaven; for He causes His sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous. For if you love those who love you, what reward do you have? Do not even the tax collectors do the same? If you greet only your brothers, what more are you doing than others? Do not even the Gentiles do the same? Therefore you are to be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect." Matthew 5:43-48.
“But I say to you who hear, love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you." Luke 6:27-28.
"Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse." Romans 12:14.
Kermit the frog sings "it's not easy being green". For those on the receiving end of people mistreating us in any way, verbally or physically, it's not easy to pray for them.
As far back as Jacob praying for his situation with his brother Esau, we see what can happen when we do pray for those who persecute people.
Jacob was overwhelmed because his situation was way more than it was when he last saw his brother. Possibly a thousand or so people were going to be impacted by what happens next. He had wives and children and servants to consider.
His path wasn't going as he'd hoped. Based on his past experience with his brother he expected to have heavy loses if not lose everything should his brother still bear a healthy grudge against him.
Then...Jacob prayed. He prayed and the Lord Jesus did respond...by changing the prayer, Jacob and the object of his prayer, Esau.
Praying for others should change us too. We really shouldn't be the same when we realize what we just did. We weren't just speaking or thinking words to communicate our desires to Jesus in Heaven. We come into the very presence of Jesus. We enter His Throne Room.
Do you realize that? Isaiah entered the Throne Room of Jesus and his life was irrevocably changed. He was fully aware of his sin. Was convinced he would die because he knew the penalty for sin. His sins were taken away, remembered no more. His attitude gained altitude. He wanted to volunteer to be something more that mattered to the Lord.
You're praying should be changing your views on people and on how to live your life. It's not you reciting a list of wants and desires with a moderate expectation that Jesus will obey you. Right there is why many many people stop praying. Jesus isn't there in prayer to obey you. Sure we're to pray expectantly when we do...but in accordance with the will of God for us in Christ Jesus.
Laying down our burdens with Jesus. Praying first for what He prayed for which is people. Praying for hearts to change. Praying for people who cross our paths to find Jesus and receive the free gift of salvation. Praying for direction. Jesus prayed for that.
Praying when discouraged. Right now this is a big one for me. Praying for those we know aren't saved. Every single Believer knows someone who isn't saved. So every single Believer had something to pray for in accordance with God's will for them.
For me I'm really trying to digest Dr. Charles Stanley's Life Principle "Disappointments are inevitable, discouragement is a choice".
To try to learn more about God's word I'm actually reading the same passages in 4 study Bibles. Trying to learn while I don't understand other things. It really is interesting to see the various points of view that the Spirit had Dr. Charles Stanley, Dr. David Jeremiah, Pastor Alistair Begg, Dr. John MacArthur and Charles Spurgeon say on the same thing.
I pray when discouraged. Several years ago I had a close friend who "got me" with whom I used to talk to a lot. The Lord’s since called him home. It's a struggle not to be discouraged about that. Am still waiting and searching for someone like him to be in my life again.
I pray about my job. Seems that weekly a new discouraging thing happens with it. What started out with such promise just hasn't been living up to it. So I pray for it for now and a new job.
I pray for my Wife. While this might seem to be a priority list...she does get prayed for before what you've read so far. The Bible says to pray for our spouse. My Wife prays for me.
Praying for those who persecute us. This can be challenging. Those who cut us off on the highway. Those cutting in line getting a parking spot. Those who grabbed the last of something at the store. Those who, for their own reasons, yell at us, curse at us, for what we may have done or failed to do or even had nothing to do with.
The treasure in Heaven are people.
People in our world are either heading for Hell or Heaven. Only in this world is there any confusion or conflicts on that front. Everyone in Heaven or Hell knows exactly why they are where they are.
Praying for these actually speeds up the return of Jesus Christ for His Church. I firmly believe that the return will happen after the last person who will say yes to salvation in Christ is saved and joins His Church. Likely they will be like the thief on the cross. No chance to be in a Bible Study nor ever attend Church again if they ever did. The time set by the Father’s own authority I believe is a person.
It's hard to pray for people who are being less than good in our lives. But we are to. We don't know how far the Spirit is working in their lives. It's a key reason to be on guard for our adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion seeking someone to devour. We aren't to let the sun go down on our anger. Do not give the devil an opportunity. Praying does these things to bring a peace that passes all understanding.
Don't look at what people have done as a reason to not pray for them. Look at the plethora of people who made up Jesus's family tree. Murders, adulterers etc. Jesus prayed for Paul while he was still Saul.
We show the character of Christ when we are in prayer, praying for what He did.
Consider your ways as it is written.
Pray.
All NASB 1995 and NASB Scripture Excerpts used by permission. (C) Lockman Foundation.
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