“Then said Jesus, Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do. And they parted his raiment, and cast lots. And the people stood beholding. And the rulers also with them derided him, saying, He saved others; let him save himself, if he be Christ, the chosen of God. And the soldiers also mocked him, coming to him, and offering him vinegar, And saying, If thou be the king of the Jews, save thyself.”
Luke 23:34-37
When Jesus was being nailed to the cross and his accusers were doing unthinkable things to Him, His response was astounding. He actually prayed to God to “Forgive them, for they know not what they do.”
Yet in today’s environment the idea of forgiveness is so foreign. People might hold grudges not just at those who have done them wrong but against entire groups of people. They often feel justified in their anger. It has become common place in the world system to speak evil about those who have hurt us and to even want them to pay and suffer for the wrong doing. Most people not only want payback for wrong doing, but the flesh says “Revenge”; which goes beyond an eye for an eye to “not just the eye, but both eyes!” They want the person to suffer worse than they did for the wrong. We see this theme constantly in movies. The idea of pay back and revenge is knit into the flesh and fabric of society and the news media and entertainment industry know how to capitalize on it.
Yet Jesus teaches us to do things another way. Instead of trying to get pay back from wrongs done to us by others and speak evil about them, He declares in Mathew 5:43-48:
“Ye have heard that it hath been said, Thou shalt love thy neighbour, 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.”
Jesus teaches us to forgive, to love, to overlook a wrong doing. He knows something that many don’t. HE understands that what is motivating people is birthed from the unseen realm. The realm of the spirit.
Ephesians 6:12-13 says: “For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places. Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.”
It’s the spiritual realm that is influencing people. Many times it’s demonic forces working through people. That is why if you have trouble in one area with certain people, you can be certain that if you don’t forgive and walk in love, that same spirit will manifest through others wherever you go. Therefore, you have to defeat that spirit by standing in faith and obeying the commandment of love. Take authority over it in prayer. Pray with compassion for the person that spirit is manifesting through because they are being used.
The spirit operates initially through the thought life. Too many believers aren’t discerning about their thought lives and will take wrong thinking as their own, instead of doing as the Word says and casting down imaginations that exalt itself against the knowledge of God. Instead, they continue to meditate on the thought until it becomes an emotion, then it is verbalized and finally acted upon. Once we realize that not every thought is our own, we can then exercise more power and authority over them. Many thoughts come from the Holy Spirit while others come from the enemy. We have to discern closely whether the thought we are thinking lines up with God’s Word or not. If it does not, then we are to cast it down. We are to “take no thought of it”.
Just imagine if every believer you know obeyed the commandment of love and the commandment to treat others the way they want to be treated! We would have instantaneous unity in the church. All strife and division would be defeated.
However, we aren’t there yet. Therefore, you choose to walk in love regardless of what others are doing around you. Love never fails. When you walk in love there will be no occasion of stumbling in you and you will never fail! Faith works by love. Therefore, when you walk in love and choose love thoughts, then you will never fail and your Faith will always work!
Ephesians 6:12-13
“For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.
13 Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.”
2 Corinthians 10:3-5
“For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war after the flesh: (For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds;) Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ;”
1 Peter 3: 8-18
“Finally, be ye all of one mind, having compassion one of another, love as brethren, be pitiful, be courteous: Not rendering evil for evil, or railing for railing: but contrariwise blessing; knowing that ye are thereunto called, that ye should inherit a blessing. For he that will love life, and see good days, let him refrain his tongue from evil, and his lips that they speak no guile: Let him eschew evil, and do good; let him seek peace, and ensue it. For the eyes of the Lord are over the righteous, and his ears are open unto their prayers: but the face of the Lord is against them that do evil. And who is he that will harm you, if ye be followers of that which is good? But and if ye suffer for righteousness’ sake, happy are ye: and be not afraid of their terror, neither be troubled; But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear: Having a good conscience; that, whereas they speak evil of you, as of evildoers, they may be ashamed that falsely accuse your good conversation in Christ. For it is better, if the will of God be so, that ye suffer for well doing, than for evil doing. For Christ also hath once suffered for sins, the just for the unjust, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh, but quickened by the Spirit:”
Romans 12:14-20
“Bless them which persecute you: bless, and curse not. Rejoice with them that do rejoice, and weep with them that weep. Be of the same mind one toward another. Mind not high things, but condescend to men of low estate. Be not wise in your own conceits. Recompense to no man evil for evil. Provide things honest in the sight of all men. If it be possible, as much as lieth in you, live peaceably with all men. 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.”
Luke 6:28-37
“Bless them that curse you, and pray for them which despitefully use you. And unto him that smiteth thee on the one cheek offer also the other; and him that taketh away thy cloak forbid not to take thy coat also. Give to every man that asketh of thee; and of him that taketh away thy goods ask them not again. And as ye would that men should do to you, do ye also to them likewise. For if ye love them which love you, what thank have ye? for sinners also love those that love them. And if ye do good to them which do good to you, what thank have ye? for sinners also do even the same. And if ye lend to them of whom ye hope to receive, what thank have ye? for sinners also lend to sinners, to receive as much again. 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. Be ye therefore merciful, as your Father also is merciful. Judge not, and ye shall not be judged: condemn not, and ye shall not be condemned: forgive, and ye shall be forgiven:”
Mathew 7:12
“Therefore all things whatsoever ye would that men should do to you, do ye even so to them: for this is the law and the prophets.”
Mathew 6:9-13
“After this manner therefore pray ye: Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil: For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen.”
Mark 11:25
“And when ye stand praying, forgive, if ye have ought against any: that your Father also which is in heaven may forgive you your trespasses.”
Further reading: 1 Corinthians 13, I John
