Page 55 - Prophetic Word Newsletter Archive 2011

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"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

The above Scripture contains all the principles one needs to be deemed by God as possessing the
beatitude of being merciful. The heartbeat principle is stated right in the middle of these passages. It is
“the Golden Rule” principle of doing to others what you would have them do to you. It is built on “going
the extra mile” and “giving till it hurts.” It is a principle of choosing to continue to bless people who
strike you publicly with their judgmental and condemning words, who choose to be hateful towards
you, who prefer to use you spitefully for their own advantage, who curse you with their words of
pronounced judgments, and all the while remain totally unthankful for all the multitude of your deeds of
kindness toward them.

To whom do these words apply? We tend to think of a brutal occupational army that has invaded one’s
country, but this is not the concept Jesus has in mind. It applies to far more personal relationships. He
is talking about confrontation with your loved ones, those dear to you, family members, children, or
even brethren who have become your enemies because of the truth. It is these to whom Jesus calls us
to be merciful beyond measure.
Listen to the source of David’s personal agony as well as Jesus’ warning to all:

“FOR IT IS NOT AN ENEMY WHO REPROACHES ME; THEN I COULD BEAR IT…
BUT IT WAS YOU, A MAN MY EQUAL, MY COMPANION AND MY ACQUAINTANCE. WE TOOK SWEET

COUNSEL TOGETHER, AND WALKED TO THE HOUSE OF GOD IN THE THRONG.” Psm. 55:12-13

"DO NOT THINK THAT I CAME TO BRING PEACE ON EARTH. I DID NOT COME TO BRING
PEACE BUT A SWORD. FOR I HAVE COME TO 'SET A MAN AGAINST HIS FATHER, A DAUGHTER

AGAINST HER MOTHER, AND A DAUGHTER-IN-LAW AGAINST HER MOTHER-IN-LAW';
AND 'A MAN'S ENEMIES WILL BE THOSE OF HIS OWN HOUSEHOLD.' Matt 10:34-37

The “sword” Jesus speaks of is “truth.” Households will be divided by confrontation of the truth. The
last days are vividly described by the apostle Paul as being centered upon what people will become:

“BUT UNDERSTAND THIS, THAT IN THE LAST DAYS WILL COME (SET IN) PERILOUS TIMES OF GREAT
STRESS AND TROUBLE HARD TO DEAL WITH AND HARD TO BEAR. FOR PEOPLE WILL BE…UTTERLY
SELF-CENTERED, PROUD AND ARROGANT… CONTEMPTUOUS…ABUSIVE SCOFFERS, DISOBEDIENT TO
PARENTS, UNGRATEFUL, RELENTLESS (ADMITTING OF NO TRUCE OR APPEASEMENT) SLANDERERS,
FALSE ACCUSERS… CALLOUS AND INHUMAN, TROUBLEMAKERS… LOOSE IN MORALS AND CONDUCT,

UNCONTROLLED AND FIERCE, RASH…” excerpts of 2 Tim. 3:1-4 Amplified

It is into this quagmire of volatile relationships that Jesus calls out to His people of truth for the needful
balance to:

“THEREFORE BE MERCIFUL, JUST AS YOUR FATHER ALSO IS MERCIFUL.”

Luke 6:27-36

Pastor Randy Shupe