Treasures New and Old

Romans: Dealing with Human Adversaries

Unfortunately, we all seem to accumulate enemies and adversaries in life. Fallen man in a state of sin just can’t seem to help himself find ways to hate, dislike, attack and otherwise become an adversary to those that don’t agree with us or who may be different, etc. This can really be true in the religious world of different faiths or different beliefs within the faith.

This month, Paul has a few words regarding the correct response to such behavior towards us.

Romans 12:19-21: “Dearly beloved, avenge not yourselves, but rather give place unto wrath: for it is written, Vengeance is mine; I will repay, saith the Lord. Therefore if thine enemy hunger, feed him; if he thirst, give him drink: for in so doing thou shalt heap coals of fire on his head. Be not overcome of evil, but overcome evil with good.”

• Although this isn’t a direct quote here by Paul, the theme of letting God exact vengeance runs throughout most of the prophets: Isaiah, Jeremiah, Ezekiel, Micah, Psalms, Nahum, Deuteronomy, and Leviticus to name a few. Some eighty times vengeance is discussed. Be sure that whatever the wicked does that is not repented of and covered by the blood of Christ at the cross will be repaid by God Himself, some in this life and the rest in eternity.

Matthew 5:25: “Agree with thine adversary quickly, while thou art in the way with him; lest at any time the adversary deliver thee to the judge, and the judge deliver thee to the officer, and thou be cast into prison.“

Forms of Adversity That We May Face

PERSONAL:

• Personal Loss: experiencing the loss of a loved one such as a family member or friend, can be emotionally challenging and cause significant grief.

• Health Challenges: dealing with physical or mental health issues, chronic illnesses, disabilities, or injuries can pose a substantial adversity.

• Financial Hardship: facing economic difficulties, unemployment, debt, poverty, or bankruptcy can create significant stress and adversity.

• Career Setbacks: job loss, unemployment, workplace conflicts, professional failures, or lack of career opportunities can pose significant challenges.

• Personal Trauma: surviving or witnessing traumatic events such as accidents, violence, abuse, or natural disasters, can lead to long-lasting emotional and psychological adversity.

FAMILY and FRIENDS:

• Relationship Problems: struggles within personal relationship such as conflicts, breakups, divorces, or estrangement, can be emotionally taxing.

• Educational Obstacles: difficulties in academies such as learning disablities, bullying, lack of resources, or inadequate educational systems, can hinder progress and create adversity.

• Rejection from others: sometimes for what appears to be no reason you can find. Matthew 18:7: “Woe unto the world because of offenses! for it must needs be that offenses come; but woe to that man by whom the offense cometh!“

ENEMIES:

• Societal Challenges: living in politically unstable times, being accused of hate, called a domestic terrorist, or other attacks by those who hate you or what you believe.

WORLD:

• Natural Disasters: experiencing natural disasters like earthquakes, hurricans, floods, wildfires, or droughts can cause immense physical, emotional, and financial damage.

Ultimately, God Will Handle Our Adversity

Verse 19 Notes: “Dearly beloved, avenge not yourselves, but rather give place unto wrath: for it is written, Vengeance is mine; I will repay, saith the Lord.”

Mark 12:36: “For David himself said by the Holy Ghost, the LORD said to my LORD, Sit thou on my right hand, till I make thine enemies thy footstool.”

Isaiah 61:1-3:

The Spirit of the Lord GOD is upon me; because the LORD hath anointed me to preach good tidings unto the meek; he hath sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to them that are bound; To proclaim the acceptable year of the LORD, and the day of vengeance of our God; to comfort all that mourn; To appoint unto them that mourn in Zion, to give unto them beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness; that they might be called trees of righteousness, the planting of the LORD, that he might be glorified.

Psalms 23:5: “Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over.”

Psalm 18:17: “He delivered me from my strong enemy, and from them which hated me: for they were too strong for me.”

Psalm 34:17-18: “The righteous cry, and the LORD heareth, and delivereth them out of all their troubles. The LORD is nigh unto them that are of a broken heart; and saveth such as be of contrite spirt.”

Psalm 31:15: “My times are in thy hand: deliver me from the hand of mine enemies, and from them that persecute me.”

Our Response to Adversity as Believers

Verse 20 Notes: “Therefore if thine enemy hunger, feed him; if he thirst, give him drink: for in so doing thou shalt heap coals of fire on his head.”

There are several verses in the Bible that discuss how Christians are to react to adversity. Here are a few examples:

Matthew 5:38-48:

Ye have heard that it hath been said, An eye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth: But I say unto you, That ye resist not evil: but whosoever shall smite thee on thy right cheek, turn to him the other also. And if any man will sue thee at the law, and take away thy coat, let him have thy cloak also. And whosoever shall compel thee to go a mile, go with him twain. Give to him that asketh thee, and from him that would borrow of thee turn not thou away. Ye have heard that it hath been said, Thou shalt love thy neighbor, and hate thine enemy. 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; 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. For if ye love them which love you, what reward have ye? do not even the publicans the same? And if ye salute your brethren only, what do ye more than others? do not even the publicans so? Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect.

Proverbs 25:21-22: “If thine enemy be hungry, give him bread to eat; and if he be thirsty, give him water to drink: For thou shalt heap coals of fire upon his head, and the LORD shall reward thee.”

Romans 12:14: “Bless them which persecute you: bless, and curse not.”

Luke 6:27-28: “But I say unto you which hear, Love your enemies, do good to them which hate you, Bless them that curse you, and pray for them which despitefully use you.”

Luke 6:35: “But love ye your enemies, and do good, and lend, hoping for nothing again; and your reward shall be great, and ye shall be the children of the Highest: for he is kind unto the unthankful and to the evil.”

Proverbs 20:22: “Say not thou, I will recompense evil; but wait on the LORD, and he shall save thee.”

1 Peter 3:9: “Not rendering evil for evil, or railing for railing: but contrariwise blessing; knowing that ye are thereunto called, that ye should inherit a blessing.”

James 1:2-4: “My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations; Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience. But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing.”

Romans 5:3-4: “And not only so, but we glory in tribulations also: knowing that tribulation worketh patience; And patience, experience; and experience, hope:”

1 Peter 4:12-13: “Beloved, think it not strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened unto you: But rejoice, inasmuch as ye are partakers of Christ’s sufferings; that, when his glory shall be revealed, ye may be glad also with exceeding joy.”

Romans 8:18: “For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us.”

2 Corinthians 4:16-18: “For which cause we faint not; but though our outward man perish, yet the inward man is renewed day by day. For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory; While we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen: for the things which are seen are temporal; but the things which are not seen are eternal.”

Proverbs 3:5-6: “Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.”

Isaiah 41:10: “Fear thou not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness.”

 Psalms 23:4: “Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me.”

Psalm 46:1-3: “To the chief Musician for the sons of Korah, A Song upon Alamoth. God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. Therefore will not we fear, though the earth be removed, adn though the mountains be carried into the midst of the sea; Though the waters thereof roar and be troubled, though the mountians shake with the swelling thereof. Selah.”

Luke 21:15: “For I will give you a mouth and wisdom, which all yor adversaries shall not be able to gainsay nor resist.”

Psalm 27:11: “Teach me thy way, O LORD, and lead me in a plain path, because of mine enemies.”

Overcome Evil with Good

Verse 21 Notes: “Be not overcome of evil, but overcome evil with good.”

Matthew 5:3-16:

Blessed are the poor in spirit: for their is the kingdom of heaven.

Blessed are they that mourn: for they shall be comforted.

Blessed are the meek: for they shall inherit the earth.

Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled.

Blessed are the merciful: for they shall obtain mercy.

Blessed are the pure in heart: for they shall see God.

Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of God.

Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness’ sake: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake.

Rejoice, and be exceeding glad: for great is your reward in heaven: for so persecuted they the prophets which were before you.

Ye are the salt of the earth: but if the salt have lost his savor, wherewith shall it be salted? it is thenceforth good for nothing, but to be cast out, and to be trodden under foot of men.

Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hid.

Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick; and it giveth light unto all that are in the house.

Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.

The words of Jesus in Matthew, Chapter 5, really make the case for a right spirit and response towards adversity better than I can. So, I leave you with those last thoughts of Jesus in the Beatitudes.

May God Bless you!

Maranatha!

Bro. Joe

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