Have you been Attacked “Without a Cause”?

Being attacked by backsliders and false converts only confirms you are a child of God.

Are you drawing fire from the enemy?

“I don’t care who hates me. I care who loves me. Especially, when the One who loves me has power over the one who hates me.” John Cameron

“Only let your conversation be as it becometh the gospel of Christ: that whether I come and see you, or else be absent, I may hear of your affairs, that ye stand fast in one spirit, with one mind striving together for the faith of the gospel; 28 And in nothing terrified by your adversaries: which is to them an evident token of perdition, but to you of salvation, and that of God. 29 For unto you it is given in the behalf of Christ, not only to believe on him, but also to suffer for his sake; 30 Having the same conflict which ye saw in me, and now hear to be in me.” Philippians 1:27-30

Jesus says “rejoice” when persecuted and “Woe unto you” if you’re not being persecuted (Matthew 5:10-12; Luke 6:26).

The true disciple has deep conviction. His conscience is captive to the Word of God which is the final authority of His life and therefore ministering. He says with Paul “Let God be true and every man a liar”! (See Romans 3:4.) The authentic disciple will be castigated by persecutors. He will be told that has a religious spirit, is judgmental, and is a legalist. Jesus says to “Rejoice” (Matthew 5:10-12).

EVER been used? EVER been exploited by someone? WHAT did Jesus instruct, command us to do when we are used?

“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;” Matthew 5:44

Okay, have you ever been blindsided? You know, when someone is attacking you unprovoked and unwarranted? David faced this very thing when Saul sought to kill him, for no good reason: “And David fled from Naioth in Ramah, and came and said before Jonathan, What have I done? what is mine iniquity? and what is my sin before thy father, that he seeketh my life?” (1 Samuel 20:1)

Jonathan asked Saul (his father): “wherefore (why) then wilt thou sin against innocent blood, to slay David WITHOUT A CAUSE?” (1 Samuel 19:5). Saul continued to bring destruction on his own life by attacking an innocent man. This is one of those sins that contributed to his ultimate demise.

PITFALL WARNING

Can spreading something true about someone, something they actually did, a sin they committed, be slander in God’s eyes? YES. Just because it’s true that he or she fell into sin does not warrant you spreading it. No, God wants to “COVER” it, bury it – just like He wants to forgive and cover, bury YOUR sins. NEVER unduly uncover the past sin of a member of Christ’s body! Do you remember what happened to Ham when he dared to uncover his father? (Read Genesis 9.) If you unduly uncover – your sins will be uncovered (Matthew 7:1-5; James 2:13). Now, read this again and let it sink in that only “an ungodly man diggeth up evil” or brings up someone else’s past sins :

“An ungodly man diggeth up evil: and in his lips there is as a burning fire.”  Proverbs 16:27

Listen to this:

“And above all things have fervent charity among yourselves: for charity shall COVER the multitude of sins.” 1 Peter 4:8

See also James 5:16; Matthew 18:15-17.

EVER notice how counterfeits call you a “legalist” or “pharisee” when you simply adhere to biblical truth?

Has someone wronged you? For Alexander the coppersmith who did Paul “much evil,” the apostle prayed “the Lord reward him according to his works.”

“Alexander the coppersmith did me much evil: the Lord reward him according to his works: 15 Of whom be thou ware also; for he hath greatly withstood our words. 16 At my first answer no man stood with me, but all men forsook me: I pray God that it may not be laid to their charge.” 2 Timothy 4:14-16

As he did here in the case of Alexander the coppersmith, Paul warned the believers. In contrast, have you ever noticed how the prophesied and “many” ear-tickling wolves today never mention the kingdom reality of the persecution of the righteous? (Matthew 24:11; 2 John 4:1, etc.) Do we realize that the Bible is full of examples and teachings about persecution – Beginning in the fourth chapter of the Bible and extending to the last book?

Where the Real Battle Rages!

Max Wang writes:

“Many churchians like to label the passion for the pure Word of God and the desire to conform to the pure doctrines taught in Holy Bible as “legalism” or “phariseeism”, and then go their way a whoring after doctrines of devils and living like the rest of the world, but they get offended when Christians judge them by the Word or expose them by the Word for their evil deeds.”

Since when is obeying, adhering to God’s plain Word legalism-other than in the mind of a counterfeit?

The truth about persecution! WHAT does it prove?

Persecution for Christ’s sake is the occasion of great rejoicing! It simply proves you are truly his! Matthew 5:10-12

Notice that “the spirit of glory and of God resteth upon you” (1 Peter 4:12-14). NOW do you see why the prince of darkness hates and attacks you through his human emissaries? “Rejoice” says Jesus (Matthew 5:10-12). GYHU = Get Your Hands Up! Dominating the Devil! 

“Beloved, think it not strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened unto you: 13 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. 14 If ye be reproached for the name of Christ, happy are ye; for the spirit of glory and of God resteth upon you: on their part he is evil spoken of, but on your part he is glorified.” 1 Peter 4:12-14

The phrase “WITHOUT CAUSE” or “WITHOUT A CAUSE” appear 52 times in God’s Word.

“For WITHOUT CAUSE have they hid for me their net in a pit, which WITHOUT CAUSE they have digged for my soul.” Psalms 35:7

“Let not them that are mine enemies wrongfully rejoice over me: neither let them wink with the eye that hate me WITHOUT A CAUSE.” Psalms 35:19

“They that hate me WITHOUT A CAUSE are more than the hairs of mine head: they that would destroy me, being mine enemies wrongfully, are mighty: then I restored that which I took not away.” Psalms 69:4

“They compassed me about also with words of hatred; and fought against me WITHOUT A CAUSE.” Psalms 109:3

“Let the proud be ashamed; for they dealt perversely with me WITHOUT A CAUSE: but I will meditate in thy precepts.” Psalms 119:78

“Princes have persecuted me WITHOUT A CAUSE: but my heart standeth in awe of thy word.” Psalms 119:161

“Devise not evil against thy neighbour, seeing he dwelleth securely by thee. 30 Strive not with a man WITHOUT CAUSE, if he have done thee no harm.” Proverbs 3:29-30

“Be not a witness against thy neighbour WITHOUT CAUSE; and deceive not with thy lips.” Proverbs 24:28

“Mine enemies chased me sore, like a bird, WITHOUT CAUSE.” Lamentations 3:52

“But I say unto you, That whosoever is angry with his brother WITHOUT A CAUSE shall be in danger of the judgment: and whosoever shall say to his brother, Raca, shall be in danger of the council: but whosoever shall say, Thou fool, shall be in danger of hell fire.” Matthew 5:22

Was our perfect, sinless, innocent LORD and Savior not hated and murdered “without a cause” – for no good reason?

“But this cometh to pass, that the word might be fulfilled that is written in their law, They hated me WITHOUT A CAUSE.” John 15:25

In the verse above, Jesus was referring to this prophetic utterance recorded in Psalms 35:19:

“Let not them that are mine enemies wrongfully rejoice over me: neither let them wink with the eye that hate me WITHOUT A CAUSE.” Psalms 35:19

“In Christ’s kingdom, suffering for His sake is a sign of God’s highest favor (Acts 9:16; 14:22; Matt. 5:11-12; Rom. 8:17; 2 Tim. 2:12) and the means to a fruitful ministry (Jn 12:24; 2 Cor 1:3-6). It results in abundant reward in Heaven (Matt. 5:12; 2 Tim. 2:12).” Donald Stamps, Life in in the Spirit Study Bible, p. 1678

Persecution | Slander

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