The Enemy Within! – Part 4

Again Jesus called the crowd to him and said, “Listen to me, everyone, and understand this. Nothing outside a [person] can make [that person] ‘unclean’ by going into [the person]. Rather, it is what comes out of [the person] that makes him [her] ‘unclean’ . . . He went on: “What comes out of a [person] is what makes [the person] ‘unclean.’ For from within, out of [our] hearts, come evil thoughts, sexual immorality, theft, murder, adultery, greed, malice, deceit, lewdness, envy, slander, arrogance and folly. All these evils come from inside and make a [person] ‘unclean.’  ‘ ” Mark 7:14, 20, KJV.

Gracious God, we call upon You today to cover us with Your blood, and help us to remain beneath the protection of Your everlasting love. Please remain with us as we enter the study of Your Word. In the name of Jesus Christ we pray. Amen.

As we continue with our study for today we come upon another aspect of the evil within. The revenge factor. Let us begin by listening to Jesus’ Words:  “You have heard that it was said, ‘Eye for eye, and tooth for tooth.’ But I tell you, Do not resist an evil person. If someone strikes you on the right cheek, turn to him the other also. And if someone wants to sue you and take your tunic, let him have your cloak as well. If someone forces you to go one mile, go with him two miles. Give to the one who asks you, and do not turn away from the one who wants to borrow from you. “You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbor and hate your enemy. But I tell you: Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, that you may be [children] of your Father in heaven. He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous. If you love those who love you, what reward will you get? Are not even the tax collectors doing that? And if you greet only your brothers [and sisters], what are you doing more than others? Do not even pagans do that? Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect . . .” (Matthew 5: 38-48).

A great part of the evil within us is the desire for revenge! We do not like to let anyone feel that they have anything “over us.” Therefore we give “tit for tat.” No more, no less. All the while, without us being aware, we are fueling the “evil within.” If we observe carefully, we will notice that Jesus not only preached a non-violent gospel, He also lived it. It was a part of Him. His Words give us an idea of why, and how, this was possible. Let us not lose sight of the fact, that the life of victory that Jesus lived on our behalf, while He was on earth, He lived as a human being; as the “Son of man.” His divinity was held in check, so that the victory He won as a human being, could be both imputed, and imparted, to His people. If we keep this fact in sight, then we will take hope, that by His grace, and in His strength, we can live a life of victory!

Listen as He explains to Philip, “Jesus answered: “Don’t you know me, Philip, even after I have been among you such a long time? Anyone who has seen me has seen the Father. How can you say, ‘Show us the Father’? Don’t you believe that I am in the Father, and that the Father is in me? The words I say to you are not just my own. Rather, it is the Father, living in me, who is doing his work. Believe me when I say that I am in the Father and the Father is in me; or at least believe on the evidence of the miracles themselves” (John 14: 9-11, emphasis provided).

Jesus was giving His disciples the secret of His success. He was introducing them to His source of overcoming power. He was showing them how He, as a human being overcame and was victorious, in this life. He was saying to them, “I can do all things,” through the Father who lives in Me! To His disciples, and to us, He says, “If you love me, you will obey what I command. And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Counselor to be with you forever— the Spirit of truth” (15-17).

By His Words and His example, Jesus gave us powerful spiritual weapons to fight the good fight of faith! He could be silent when they lied on Him! He could resist retaliating when they hit Him, spit on Him and ridiculed Him! He could love them when they were crying out, “Crucify Him, Crucify Him!” He could do this because He had power from above to resist all evil! We too, in the strength of the Holy Spirit can resist the desire to retaliate and take revenge! He left us a promise, and His Words cannot fail! Take heart as You listen to His promise. By His grace, “we shall overcome!”

“I tell you the truth, anyone who has faith in me will do what I have been doing. He will do even greater things than these, because I am going to the Father. And I will do whatever you ask in my name, so that the Son may bring glory to the Father. You may ask me for anything in my name, and I will do it” (12-14). How can we fail, having such a promise?