Tuesday, December 16, 2008

Haters Hate - Christians Love

After Jesus was born in Bethlehem in Judea, during the time of King Herod, Magi from the east came to Jerusalem 2and asked, "Where is the one who has been born king of the Jews? We saw his star in the east and have come to worship him." When King Herod heard this he was disturbed, and all Jerusalem with him. 4When he had called together all the people's chief priests and teachers of the law, he asked them where the Christ was to be born. Then Herod called the Magi secretly and found out from them the exact time the star had appeared. 8He sent them to Bethlehem and said, "Go and make a careful search for the child. As soon as you find him, report to me, so that I too may go and worship him." (Matthew 1:1-4, 7-8)
I am SO glad today that I have a place of refuge I can go to when the storms of life rage. I’m happy to know that the Lord has plans for me that are good and not of evil. Sometimes as I’m going through all that I go through I can’t help but to thank God for being omniscient. There are some enemies and traps that lie ahead of me that I’m unaware of but He knows all about them. I am faced with grins everyday that appear to be smiles but in all actuality are wicked snares laughing at me and not with me. I thank God that I don’t have to worry about who’s for me and who’s against me because if God be for me, He’s greater than the world against me. I don’t know when the enemy is going to learn that no weapon formed against the people of God will ever prosper. Now, God didn’t say that the weapons wouldn’t form or even that they wouldn’t be launched but He did promise that they wouldn’t prosper and I thank God for that today.

As we approach this time of year, many people that normally wouldn’t think twice about the Lord are decking trees, buying gifts and singing Christmas carols and talking about the "true meaning of Christmas", the enemy is growing angrier and angrier by the day. There is just too much attention on Jesus for him. This is nothing new. The enemy has been mad for a very long time at the thought of Jesus. He knows at the name of Jesus every knee shall bow and every tongue shall confess that Jesus is King of Kings and Lord of Lords. King Herod couldn’t accept that. So what did he do? He pretended to want to know where The Christ was. He pretended that he wanted to go worship Jesus but he really wanted to have him killed.

The enemy is always trying to invade our camp. He loves to set up shop in our congregations, on our jobs and in our homes. The enemy and his agents want to hang out where Christians are so that if we aren’t studied up, prayed up and fasted up he can use us against one another. As we strive to build the Kingdom of God, the enemy works just as hard (and in some cases harder) to do the opposite.

The enemy is subtle. He won’t out right tell you that he only wants to kill, steal and destroy your life. No, that’s too easy. Instead, he’ll use cunning and crafty ways. He or she (because he can take the form of a woman) will flatter you with words and pretend like they love the Lord just like you do so that after you let your guard down and take your attention off of Jesus he can go in for the kill. I pray that God will open our eyes so that we may see the traps the enemy has set for us. I pray that we, the Body of Christ will stay focused on Jesus in this season and every season thereafter so that we may not be caught up in the temporary joys and pleasures of the world but that we may set our affections on the eternal things of God.

As Matthew’s account of the Magi’s visit continues, God warned the Magi not to return to Herod. Herod had a plan but God’s was greater. So if you find yourself behind enemy lines and up against all odds know that God’s got your back. No weapon formed against you shall ever proper and every tongue that rises up against you in judgment- you shall condemn. This is our heritage as servants of the Lord. (Isaiah 54:17)

Are they “hating” on you? Do you have a "Herod" in your life that talks like he means you will but he really wants to take your life? If so, let “them” hate. Remember they hated Jesus first and as servants we are no greater than the master. For His sake we face death every day. We are considered as sheep to be slaughtered. The Word tells us so. Let’s not trade evil for evil and hate for hate but let’s bless those that curse us. That’s where the blessing is!

10 comments:

Parkay said...

Hey Shanita, once again you hit the nail on the head. Earlier today I was going through something at work and a very dear friend was telling me some of the same exact words that you said in this post. She knew what I was going through and and why but kept telling me to not let the enemy steal my joy today. She reminded me that I was a child of God and that the enemy was mad and trying to do what he does best. She kept repeating to me that "no weapon formed against me shall prosper. At first I didn't want to hear what she had to say. But the more she said it, the more it sunk in and then I read your post. God is so so good. I have to thank God for both of you right now and use the tool he has already given me which is his word. PEACE

MikeyAnn said...

You are speaking the truth! The enemy is a hater and he hates us because we are made in GODS image! Im glad that it is the Lords battle, not ours! A good friend once told me that swatting away the enemy would be as easy as swatting away flies, once I grew in His spirit.
I pray that all of our brothers and sisters in Christ will be able to keep the enemy under foot and that The Lords protection be upon us!

Love your sister in Christ,
Mikey

Shanita Waters said...

@ Parkay - you know, I didn't have a clue what I was going to blog about today. As I continued reading through the story of the birth of Christ waiting for God to give me a message for today - this stood out. I feel humbled and blessed that God used me to confirm what He had already spoken to you. I pray that God's peace will greet you in your office the next time you enter. The enemy sees your light. Continue to let your light so shine so that your "Herod" may see your good works and glorfy God. If we can get him/her saved that's a double blessing. #1 - they can help you lead others to Christ and #2 - you won't have to worry about them tripping. Pray for them and do good even if it hurts you.

@ Mikey - Thanks for agreeing with me in prayer. The enemy is busy but it's in vain because God's work is already finished. We'll just have to keep one another in prayer as well as those that are allowing themselves to be used by you know who.

HALLELUJAH said...

Sister Shanita,

Great post, our church recently put a play on called “All I want for Christmas is JESUS” excellent play it’s all about JESUS.

We are too good to those who despitefully use us, the bible states in the book of Romans 12:20 - 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.

Stay endowed with the Holy Spirit…

GOD Bless~~~

Shanita Waters said...

@ Hallelujah - Thanks for the encouragement. That sounds like an interesting play. I don't "celebrate Christmas" but I would definately appreciate seeing a play called "All I Want For Christmas is Jesus". Jesus is the reason for the season. Now I'm headed over to your page.

Myriam said...

Hi Shanita,

wonderful post and I love the truths that you pulled out of the story too. We are surrounded by 'Herods' and indeed praise our God who would not let the weapons formed against us proper.

God bless!!!

Lisa said...

Hi Shanita,
Thank you for visiting my blog, I pray without ceasing because my Grandma taught me to do that since I was very young, I did not get it then but I GET IT NOW. Jesus is coming soon and the Lord has been working in my family, making changes for His glory but the devil is working as well. My parents have been very ill and the enemy has paralyized me with fear even though I know God is in Control. We have had such stress that we have had little arguments among us where you can just see the devil ringing his hands with excitement. I have put him in his place and I have praised and worshiped the Lord to the point I am once again at peace. I have decided to follow your blog because I feel my walk with Christ will be strengthened by your insight. Nice to meet you.

Shanita Waters said...

@ Myriam - I thank God for the "Herods" in my life. They help keep me on point and praying even more. Nobody wants to be a hater but I guess somebody's gotta do it.

@ Lisa - You are so right! We have to remain prayful watching as well as praying. If we don't pray we will faint and fainting is not an option. There's too much work to be done. I will keep your parents and the rest of your family in prayer. God is able to do exceedingly and abundantly above all we can ask for or think of.

Blessings!
Shanita

A Free Spirit Butterfly said...

My girlfriend recently said that she was struggling at work and wished that everyone was a Christian and how happy we all would be. I asked her how would we grow from that? How would we reach out to someone in need? How would we serve the Lord? I love that life is not perfect and that we are being challenged each day. I can't serve him if my life is perfect. I am surround by the devil in law enforcement and I am in a happy place until the devil sneaks up on me and tries to take me off the path God has set for me. I pray and talk with the Lord but if we aren't surrounded with likeminded people, our energy can be sapped away during those encounters. I love that when I'm having one of those moments, I can check up on my blog buddies and read something that feeds my soul.

I thank GOD for all of you and your gifts that you share!

From the Heart said...

I had written what I thought was a great comment on your post and when I went to publish it I hit something that took me back to your original page and lost my comment. One of the things I said was that the enemy is hard at work trying to deceive the Christians because he knows his time is short.
God has been so good to me. I guess I wasn't supposed to publish all that I wrote. God knows my heart and blesses me every day by people like you.
Thanks for your words of wisdom,
AliceE.