Let Yourselves Be Cheated?

 

1 Corinthians 6:7


"Now therefore, it is already an utter failure for you (brothers in Christ) that you go to law against one another. Why do you not RATHER accept wrong? Why do you not RATHER let yourselves be cheated?"


"You have heard that it was said, 'an eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth.' But I (Jesus) tell you not to resist an evil person. But whoever slaps you on the right cheek, turn the other to him also. If anyone wants to sue you and take away your tunic, let him have your cloak also." Matthew 5:38-40


I think its not hard to understand what is being said here. What's difficult is overcoming all of the learned behaviors that tell us to protect ourselves: punish those who are taking advantage and fight back when threatened. Actually, we (those who have received the Lord's salvation) torment the salvation of our souls when we fight and punish. This discussion reminds that Jesus teaches us, "without Me, you can do nothing". You should not be dismayed if your initial response to an unrighteous act does not measure up to Jesus' instruction in Matthew's gospel. How then do we get from learned behaviors to the righteousness of God in these instances? By the inspiration of the Holy Spirit! If you study, attend church consistently, seek, knock, and ask for His wisdom in faith, nothing doubting, you will surely receive the understanding, awakening you, alerting you, reminding you, empowering you to be a doer of it!


In these things you need that no one teach you. No minister is able to teach you HOW to do these things, just open the discussion and live it! The understanding and empowerment come from the Teacher by the Communicator, the Holy Spirit.

 

We should RATHER because our willful obedience leaves a deposit of Jesus Christ with them and, the Psalmist writes, "I have never seen the righteous forsaken nor his descendants begging bread". Psalm 37:25

We Must Judge, Not Punish

Pope Francis, the head of the Roman Catholic Church, regarding the issue of same-sex relationships, recently said that he would not judge those involved in homosexuality. I agree if by that he means he would not render punishment. Physical harm, malice, prejudice regarding the basic necessities of life, and exclusion from attendance in church would not be a just response by Christians toward these folks. 

I have felt impressed of the Lord that judgement should be understood in two ways: God's righteous judgement toward man and man's unrighteous judgement toward his fellow man. Righteous judgement coming from the One who KNOWS the hearts of men; unrighteous judgement coming from those who "know in part" (1 Corinthians 13:12) and therefore render inefficient and harmful sentences, spiritually speaking. Unrighteous judgement often is a cloak for self-willed self service and bitter envy, not motivated by the One who knows love completely.

Yet, Paul said (1 Corinthians 11:31), "if we would judge ourselves, we would not be judged". Do you see the difference between critical assessment of a situation and punishment? "If we would critically assess ourselves, we would not be punished". "But the natural man does not receive the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him; nor can he know them, because they are SPIRITUALLY DISCERNED. But he who is spiritual judges (assesses) all things, yet he himself is rightly judged(punished) by no one". We in Christ are called to judge (spiritually discern) all things. It is through Spiritual discernment that our steps are rightly ordered: we suppress not the truth and clearly see and understand His invisible attributes, even His eternal power and Godhead (Romans 1:20). If we punish not, assuming our righteous place in Him, those who believe not will have the chance to repent. Those who are outside will be without excuse for they will see the King of Righteousness among His people. 

It's Not About You?

Sounds soooo spiritual. In context, it NEEDS to be more about you so it can be more about others. Saints and lost alike need to see the righteous behaving more like Jesus Christ. We must be willing to go on to completion in Him, who desires to build us up into a spiritual house for His dwelling in His fullness!


Until recently, a baseball pitcher who could effectively battle throughout the entire game, completing it, was worth a lot to a team. From a baseball perspective, he did not have to win as long as he kept his team in the game, but, many times, the pitcher remained in the game because he was overwhelming the opposition. A complete game would give rest to the other pitchers on the team... I would rejoice to see more brethren who are able to punish all disobedience as their obedience is being fulfilled; those who are able to help the team (others) to maturity. If a pitcher has not been able to complete the sixth inning (spiritually speaking) how can he help others to do so?


James 1:2,3 reads, "brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience (perseverance). But let perseverance have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and COMPLETE, lacking nothing".


2 Peter 1:4-11 shows us that "great and precious promises have been given to us" and that through these we "may be partakers of the divine nature". This happens by "adding to your faith virtue, and to virtue knowledge, and to knowledge self control, and to self control perseverance, and to perseverance godliness, and to godliness brotherly kindness, and to brotherly kindness love. For if these things are yours and abound, you will be neither barren (useless!) nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. Therefore, brethren, be even more diligent to make your call and election sure, for if you do these things you will never stumble; for so an entrance will be supplied to you abundantly into the everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ". 
Do we add these things by going to a christian store and downloading the software to our christian souls? We ask of Him, because He is the author and finisher of ALL THESE THINGS! He reveals Himself to us because we ask in faith, nothing doubting, not willing to go back to or stay weak; "becoming COMPLETE" in Him? (2 Corinthians 13:11)

Go to This People and Say...

The Acts of the Apostles 28: 26, 27


"The Holy Spirit spoke rightly through Isaiah the prophet to our fathers, 'Go to this people and say: "Hearing you will hear, and shall not understand; and seeing you will see, and not perceive; For the hearts of this people (the Jewish people in this instance) HAVE GROWN DULL. Their ears are HARD OF HEARING, and their eyes THEY HAVE CLOSED, lest they should see with their eyes and hear with their ears, lest they should understand with their hearts and turn, so that I should heal them." ' "


The Jewish people were and are God's chosen people: chosen to propagate those who would be the bible story. We know that Jesus Christ was born of a Jewish girl. All the patriarchs were of Jewish lineage. They also experienced His mighty supernatural hand. They were, of all peoples on the earth, best prepared to receive Jesus the Messiah. They thought His kingdom would manifest differently than it did. Instead of immediately wiping out their adversaries, He informed them they should love, bless, pray for and do good to them; He said they must lay down their lives for these "friends". I can only imagine what startling breath Jesus provided to stench of sin of that time. It must have been amazing to see and hear of all the good He did for the Jewish people. Yet they closed their ears, eyes and hearts from Him. We, who have not been born into the Jewish lineage, have been provided for as well- Paul left those in the twenty-eighth chapter to tell the Gentiles of Jesus Christ. The prophetic words that came through Paul will judge us as well.

Water Baptism's Older Brother

1 Peter 3:13-4:2

 

"And who is he who will harm you if you BECOME followers of what is good? But even if you should suffer for righteousness sake, you are blessed. 'And do not be afraid of their threats, nor let your hearts be troubled'. But SANCTIFY THE LORD GOD IN YOUR HEARTS, and always be ready to give a defense for everyone who asks you a reason for the hope that is in you, with meekness and fear; having a good conscience, that when they defame you as evildoers, those who revile your good conduct in Christ may be ashamed. For it is better, if it is the will of God, to suffer for doing good rather than doing evil."

 

 

"For Christ also suffered once for sins, the just for the unjust, that He might bring us to God, BEING PUT TO DEATH IN THE FLESH BUT MADE ALIVE BY THE SPIRIT, by whom also He went and preached to the spirits in prison, who formerly were disobedient, when once the Divine longsuffering waited in the days of Noah, while the ark was being prepared, in which a few, that is , eight souls, were saved through water. THERE IS NOW AN ANTITYPE THAT NOW SAVES US- BAPTISM (not the removal of the filth of the flesh but THE ANSWER OF A GOOD CONSCIENCE TOWARD GOD) through the resurrection of Jesus Christ, who has gone into heaven and is at the right hand of God, angels and authorities and powers having been made subject to Him."

 

 

"THEREFORE, SINCE CHRIST SUFFERED FOR US IN THE FLESH, ARM YOURSELVES ALSO WITH THE SAME MIND, FOR HE WHO HAS SUFFERED IN THE FLESH (abiding with a good conscience toward God) has CEASED FROM SIN, so that he no longer should live the rest of his time in the flesh for the lusts of men BUT FOR THE WILL OF GOD."

 

 

This portion of scripture is not discussing water baptism nor the Holy Spirit baptism but the baptism of fire.

 

 

"John (the Baptist) answered, saying to all, "I will indeed baptize you with water; but One mightier than I is coming, whose sandal strap I am not worthy to loose. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire."  (Luke 3:16).  It is the place of difficulty (suffering) where the answer of a good conscience toward God is formed; where we continue to become partakers of what is good; where we press toward the mark for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.

 

 

The good news is that you are not out there alone in this, in fact He sets the race before us. We must be wise enough to hear His inspiration and do it: whether by the unction of the Holy Spirit, receive His laborers by the Holy Spirit or in the purity of His word by the Holy Spirit. He uses these to direct and correct us.

 

 

Jesus said to Paul,  "My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness (your devoted life to Him).  Therefore, most gladly, I (Paul) will rather boast in my infirmities that the power of Christ may rest upon me. Therefore, I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in needs, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ's sake, for when I am weak, then I am strong.

(2 Corinthians 12:9,10)

Ask in Humility

 James 4:1-3

 

"Where do wars (battles) and fights come from among you? Do they not come from your desire for pleasure that war in your members? You lust and do not have. You murder and covet and cannot obtain. You fight and war (battle), yet you do not have because you do not ask. You ask and do not receive because you ask amiss that you may spend on your pleasures".

 

 

Here we see James explaining the futility of self service. He speaks of those who lust, murder, covet, fight and war for things that will not fulfill. They do the same for what they think is right. The context here is not that they cannot get to what they lust for, covet, fight and battle for: there are people all over the world receiving exactly what they think they desire. We see the world rejoicing over their carnal desires, manipulation and idolatry. It is ever before our face in daily experiences and in the media. It is my opinion that James is explaining that these carnal approaches will not fulfill: in their lusting, coveting, fighting and battling, they have not what truly fulfills. They cannot obtain what soothes the soul and gives strength. Their battle is not the good fight of faith! He says that they do not have because they do not ask (they are not asking for what they should be). When they do ask, they receive not because they are asking, again, for the wrong things, not those things He knows will bless.

 

 

"Wisdom is the principal thing; therefore get wisdom. And in all your getting, get understanding". (Proverbs 4:7)

 

 

 "Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to who him who knocks it will be opened". (Matthew 7:7)

 

 

The scripture writes that He (Jesus) is our exceeding great reward. Ask of Him and of Himself He will give to you and show you great and mighty things that you do not know! Asking Him for who He is results in humility: allowing Him to do in us what He knows is good for us and mankind.  

Carnality Deflects Spiritual Things

1 Corinthians 2:9-16, 3:1-3

 

 

"But as it is written: 'Eye has not seen, nor ear heard, nor has entered into the heart of man, the things which God has prepared for THOSE WHO LOVE HIM'. But God has revealed them unto us through His Spirit. For the Spirit searches all things, yes, the deep things of God. For what man knows the things of a man except the spirit of the man which is in him?  Even so, no one knows the things of God except the Spirit of God. Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, that we might know the things that have been freely given to us by God. These things we also speak, not in words that man's wisdom teaches but which the Spirit teaches, comparing spiritual things with spiritual. But the natural man does not receive the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him; nor can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned. But he who is spiritual judges all things, yet he is rightly judged by no one. For 'who has known the mind of the Lord that he may instruct Him?' But we have the mind of Christ. And I brethren could not speak to you as to spiritual people but as to carnal, as to babes in Christ. I fed you with milk and not with solid food; for until now you were not able to receive it, and even now you are still not able; for you are still carnal".

 

 

Paul is exhorting the Corinthian church to repent from their carnal ways and follow his manner of living. The "Us" in the second sentence is not everyone although it is available to everyone. Not everyone in Christ is willing to lay down their carnality for His spiritual things. We treat babies as such until they reach a point where we know they know to act in a more grown-up manner. Paul is explaining that if they want the blessing of the Lord upon their lives, they must build on the foundation they received in Christ. The new birth in Christ Jesus is really an act of obedience as the Spirit and Truth of this kingdom land upon the measure of faith given to each one. One is born again by the Holy Spirit and with that Spiritual birth comes a greater passion to follow God's ways. So follow it! Follow it to a bible-believing church and an open bible on your own. As you give yourself to it, He begins to build you up into all things in Him, if you will have it! He wants to give you His mind and every thing God has in mind for you!