Day 16 Nonresistance

Day 16

Nonresistance

“You have heard that it was said, ‘An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth. But I tell you not to resist an evil person. But whoever slaps you on your 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)

Nonresistance is the 8^th pillar

A believer’s nonresistance is the 8^th pillar that holds the temple of Truth!

To be nonresistant is to be longsuffering; to be longsuffering is to be extremely patient.  Longsuffering is a fruit of the Spirit; therefore the Spirit of God must dwell in us for us to be extremely patient.  It is humanly impossible to be extremely patient, for it is human nature to respond good to those who do us good, and evil to those who do us evil.  This is how the natural man (the man of flesh) walks. But when we are born in Christ, we become a man of the Spirit and we no longer walk according to the flesh but we walk in the Spirit.  When you walk in the Spirit you will understand that:

“For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against  powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places.”  (Ephesians 6:12)

When you understand that there are evil spirits behind those who do evil, you will not be angry with them anymore, but you will love them, for you will see with your spiritual eyes the real culprits who are behind evil. Then you will find it easy to forgive the people.  I tell you the truth, most of the time they do not know what they are doing. Take the religious Jews at the time of Christ as an example.  They hanged God on the cross and went to keep the Sabbath of the God they had left hanging on the cross.  Can you see how deceiving the evil spirits can be if you yield to them?  That is why the Lord Jesus said:

“Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they do.”  (Luke 23:34)

That is why we must be extremely patient with everyone, just like God was and is extremely patient with us.  For, before we came to the knowledge of the truth which set us free, all of us engaged in all kinds of evil.  We were ignorant and God was extremely patient with us until we came to the knowledge of truth and cast away the works of darkness from us.  Now, my dear beloved, we are the sons and daughters of God; therefore we ought to imitate Christ who is our perfect example:

“He was oppressed and He was afflicted,
      Yet He opened not His mouth;
      He was led as a lamb to the slaughter,
      And as a sheep before its shearers is silent,
      So He opened not His mouth.”  (Isaiah 53:7)

“Who, when He was reviled, did not revile in return; when He suffered, He did not threaten, but committed Himself to Him who judges righteously.”    (1 Peter 2:23)

Beloved, the Lord Jesus is our perfect example, for we see daily in our own lives, as we offend God, that the LORD does not strike us back, but on the contrary, God still does us good according to His eternal mercies.  Amen! Even though we deserve to be punished, God chooses rather to do us good; to give us another chance to repent.  Even so my dear beloved, we ought to be patient with those who do us evil, not repaying evil with evil, but constantly doing good to those who do us evil, that we may be the children of the Most High.

Therefore my beloved, do not say,

“I will do to him just as he has done to me; I will render to the man according to his work.”  (Proverbs 24:29)

“But I say to you who hear: Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, and pray for those who spitefully use you. To him who strikes you on the one cheek, offer the other also. And from him who takes away your cloak, do not withhold your tunic either. Give to everyone who asks of you. And from him who takes away your goods do not ask them back.  And just as you want men to do to you, you also do to them likewise. But if you love those who love you, what credit is that to you? For even sinners love those who love them.  And if you do good to those who do good to you, what credit is that to you? For even sinners do the same. And if you lend to those from whom you hope to receive back, what credit is that to you? For even sinners lend to sinners to receive as much back. But love your enemies, do good, and lend, hoping for nothing in return; and your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High. For He is kind to the unthankful and evil.  Therefore be merciful, just as your Father also is merciful.”  (Luke 6:27-36)

So my dear beloved, if truly we are the children of God, let us, therefore, hear and do the Word of the LORD:

“Now we exhort you, brethren, warn those who are unruly, comfort the fainthearted, uphold the weak, be patient with all. See that no one renders evil for evil to anyone, but always pursue what is good both for yourselves and for all.  Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, in everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.”   (1Thessalonians 5:14-18)

In short, my dear beloved, to be nonresistant (longsuffering), is to repay good to those who do you evil when they provoke you, tempt you, speak evil of you, steal from you, or do any kind of evil  to you.  Please forgive them, for they do not know what they do.  Bear in mind who is behind them--the devil, who uses other people to frustrate us in our faith.  But if you learn to see the evil spirit behind the person and forgive the person quickly in your heart, I tell you the truth, you will frustrate the devil, and he will flee from you.  For the devil cannot endure love and peace.  Where there is love and peace, the devil flees from such places.  So if your heart is full of love for God, for yourself and others, the devil will flee from you.  Amen!

Finally my beloved:

“Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse.  Rejoice with those who rejoice, and weep with those who weep.  Be of the same mind toward one another. Do not set your mind on high things, but associate with the humble. Do not be wise in your own opinion. Repay no one evil for evil. Have regard for good things in the sight of all men. If it is possible, as much as depends on you, live peaceably with all men.  Beloved, do not avenge yourselves, but rather give place to wrath; for it is written, ‘Vengeance is Mine, I will repay,’ says the Lord.  Therefore if your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him a drink.  For in so doing you will heap coals of fire on his head.  Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.”

(Romans 12:14-21)

The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you.  Amen!

Meditation:  “Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.”  This is the will of God for me.

Prayer points:  LORD, please help me to be longsuffering.  Please teach me to do good always to those who do me evil.  Open my spiritual eyes, that I may see things as they really are.  For I pray in Jesus’ name.  Amen!

Commitment:  From today forward, by Your grace oh LORD, I commit myself not to retaliate nor revile back, but to commit all things and myself to You, oh LORD, who judges righteously.  In Jesus’ name.  Amen!