have you ever been the object of hatred or hostility from someone how did it make you feel and how did you respond are you finding it difficult to protect your peace while dealing with the negativity as Christians we are not immune to the challenges of facing hostility or hatred from others the Bible warns us that we will encounter such trials however our response to these situations can either draw us closer to God or lead us into bitterness and resentment hatred abounds throughout the Bible from Cain and Abel to the persecution of Jesus Christ by people
who did not like his message as Christians we are called to work our way in a world filled with hatred and quite often we may find ourselves the targets of such hostility it also brings us to the question of how to protect ourselves from those who hate us while still upholding the lifestyle of Christ today we will explore how to protect ourselves spiritually and emotionally from those who Harbor ill against us while still adhering to the teachings of Christ before we continue please subscribe to our Channel and click the notification Bell hatred has been one
of the destructive forces in which the lives of those targeted by it including those who Harbor it come into play hatred is a strong and debilitating emotion that can affect the lives of individuals and communities in powerfully significant ways hatred is a force that can deeply wound the human soul it can tear apart relationships communities and even nations in a Christian worldview hatred is understood not only as a disease of negative feeling but much more than a toxic emotional response it is a spiritual one that is diametrically opposite to the nature of God who is
love as stated in 1 John 48 the Bible talks largely about hatred in most books with most of them illustrating how it destroys the Old Testament explains hatred as a sin that perpetuates violence and War hatred originated from the fall of Man when Adam and Eve sinned they brought in a crack into the perfect relationship between God and man similarly the same crack affects human relationships through jealousy strife and finally hatred the story of Cain and Abel in Genesis 4 poignantly illustrates how unbridled emotions such as jealousy can escalate into hate and in the case
of Cain even murder the hate that Cain felt for his brother Abel was not just a personal thing it demonstrated the broken relationship he had with God the New Testament goes even further emphasizing that hate cannot coexist with the Christian life the seriousness of the issue of hate is shown in 1 John 3:15 where it says anyone who hates a brother or sister is a murderer and you know that no murderer has eternal life residing in him this verse equates it to murder because both are from the same source of malice and total disregard for
human life in that respect hatred isn't just a feeling but a condition of the heart that separates us from God and others Jesus spoke about the inevitability of hatred in the lives of his followers as he warned in John 151 18:19 if the world hates you keep in mind that it hated me first if you belong to the world it would love you as its own as it is you do not belong to the world but I have chosen you out of the world that is why the world hates you this portion drives home the
idea that hate against Christians will be opposed to the values and Credence the world is used to so many things the world does not understand or that run counter to the accepted Norms of the world are met with hostility hatred is not only a social or psychological problem hatred often comes from a place of spiritual darkness when we look at the world through the lens of scripture we understand a spiritual battle between the forces of Good and Evil light and darkness Ephesians 612 reminds us that our struggle is not against flesh and blood but against
the rulers against the authorities against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the Heavenly Realms hatred can be one of those spiritual tools in the armor of the spiritual forces that the Bible talks about to divide and cause strife and Destruction for that very reason our response toward hatred must be spiritual full of discernment and dependent on the strength of God but as Christians we are called to a different response to hatred than the world might expect we are never to return evil for evil but are called instead
to live in a way that demonstrates God's love and grace in every aspect of Our Lives sometimes this is not easy especially when we find ourselves on the receiving end of ill treatment but it is the path Christ has given us the question now is how do we cope with people that hate us one of the most challenging countercultural imperatives in the Bible as Jesus taught is how to relate with those who hate us most people are often conditioned to fight back or defend themselves when hated by someone instead of seeking Revenge revenge or harboring
resentment Jesus in Luke 6 27:28 said but to you who are listening I say love your enemies do good to those who hate you bless those who curse you pray for those who mistreat you here he gave the steps on how hatred should be responded to loving doing good blessing and praying it is not only for the sake of the one hating but also for protection against the spread of hate and bitterness inside our hearts love here is not an emotional love but a deliberate Act of one's will in the manner God expresses his love
toward people even when we Face hostility it is a love that seeks the best for others including those who seek to do us wrong this kind of love aape love is selfless sacrificial and unconditional since it is based not on the recipient's worthiness but on the character of the one who loves Jesus also instructed his disciples to turn the other cheek when an enemy hit them on the cheek many have taken this as an invitation to passivity and weakness it is required however to understand in what cultural and subcultural context Jesus said such in Jesus
time hitting somebody on the cheek was an insult rather than an injury by turning the the other cheek Jesus was teaching his followers not to be vengeful but to break the circle of violence and insult by giving a living reflection of God's grace and mercy in our actions more than that Jesus teaching is to avoid being at war with people and to seek the good of those who hate them Paul also iterates what Jesus had said to the effect if your enemy is hungry feed him if he is thirsty give him something to drink in
doing this you will Heap burning coals on his head do not be overcome by evil but overcome evil with good Romans 12 2021 this imagery of heaping burning coals has been regarded by most as a metaphor to lead one's enemy to repentance through actions in benevolence that means we should not overcome evil with evil but with good these are not theoretical teachings but practical ones that need to be applied daily in the life of a believer but how easy is this you may ask this is where the Holy Spirit comes in we must depend on
the Holy Spirit to provide strength and Leadership because loving one's enemies is beyond human strength the Bible has numerous great examples of hatred between people that was overcome through love and faith we find inspiration within such stories and take practical lessons for believers experiencing similar testing the first example I will share with you is that of Jesus Christ the sinless son of God experienced firsthand hatred from fellow Bible teachers and leaders in the synagogue people who should have supported his assignment turned their back on him and were on the front row during his trial Jesus
is the greatest Overcomer of hatred for while being despised rejected and betrayed his response was one of Love forgiveness and compassion upon the cross Jesus prayed for his persecutors saying father forgive them for they do not know what they are doing Luke 23:34 the second example is Joseph he was sold to slavery by his brothers who felt he would rise above them and they may end up reporting to him a teenager was sold and made a servant in an un known land and later found himself in prison for an offense he never committed finally after
God had brought his word to pass and made him a prime minister in Egypt his brother came feeling remorseful for what they did to him Joseph said in Genesis 50 20 you intended to harm me but God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done the saving of many lives he chose forgiveness over Revenge since he understood God's sovereignty in his circumstances the third example is the Apostle Paul Apostle Paul was victimized through severe persecution beatings imprisonments and even shipwrecks he stood very strong given his mission and responded with gracious endurance most
of his letters spoke about God's strength which was sufficient for him in the face of opposition the fourth example is Steven Steven is one of the first leaders of the early Church who underwent the process of martyrdom with great faith and even forgiveness of those who stoned him too death same Lord do not hold this sin against them acts 7:60 in a Christlike Act of forgiveness these biblical examples encourage us to have faith in God's plan beloved how would you protect your heart and mind from the damage of hate while maintaining a loving and compassionate
attitude in other words what precisely will you do in order not to let the roots of bitterness and resentment find their place in your heart number one you need to guard your heart now while Jesus calls us to love our enemies and turn hostility with affection it is also incumbent upon us to safeguard our hearts and Minds from the corrosive effects of hatred bitterness and unforgiveness the Bible gives such clear Direction on protecting our inner being from The Works of such forces of Destruction Proverbs 423 exhorts us Above All Else guard your heart for everything
you do flows from it as used here in a scriptural sense the heart refers to the seat of our emotions thoughts and will it constitutes the core of our being and whatever takes root in our hearts will eventually come to light in our actions and attitude for this reason we must not allow hate or bitterness to take root and thus poison our relationships distort our perception and ultimately drive us away from God one of the greatest risks we have in terms of hatred is the tendency to Harbor unforgiveness lack of forgiveness is dangerous because it
installs a wedge between us and God Jesus warns that if you forgive forgive others when they sin against you your heavenly father will also forgive you but your father will not forgive your sins if you do not forgive others the unforgiving state in our hearts has ruined our good relationship with God and opened a door for the enemy into our lives this can easily become a vicious circle of bitterness that is hard to escape number two renew your mind daily with the word another way to protect our hearts is by renewing our minds with the
truth of God's word the Bible says not to conform to the pattern of this world but to be transformed by Renewing Your Mind then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is his good pleasing and perfect will in renewing the mind one must practice saturation with scripture meditating on God's promises and orchestrating one's thoughts to align with his Truth by this we can fend off the lies of the enemy and respond to hatred in a manner consistent with our Lord's example number three maintain peace and joy around you and within another
important way to guard our hearts and Minds is by maintaining peace and joy even when opposed while Paul says do not be anxious about anything but in every situation by prayer and petition with Thanksgiving present your requests to God and the peace of God which transcends all understanding will guard your hearts and Minds in Christ Jesus as we bring our concerns before God In Prayer with a Heart of Thanksgiving he promises to give us peace beyond our understanding a peace that shall protect our hearts and Minds from the anxiety and fear that hate can c
create spiritual disciplines of prayer meditation and worship will also help our hearts stay fixed on God rather than the hate around us while we praise God we remind ourselves of God's goodness greatness and faithfulness and in the process we shift our Focus From the trials before us to the one who is greater than any obstacle praise reminds you that God is in control therefore you learn to trust his plan when working with difficult people in essence priority should be given to a relationship with God and an inner Sanctuary that does not shake with hatred from
external sources should be formed Having learned how to cope with people who hate us let me share how to set healthy boundaries to protect ourselves loving our enemies does not mean that we have to give them free reign in our lives setting healthy boundaries is an essential component of self-care and self- protection boundaries aren't about closing people out or holding grudges but about sustaining our emotional and spiritual well-being suppose somebody in your life verbally abuses you or always speaks negatively setting boundaries on how often you allow that person into your life would be prudent that
does not mean you stop loving or praying for them it does mean mean protection against their toxic Behavior the Bible in Proverbs warns that do not make friends with a hot-tempered person do not associate with one easily angered or you may learn their ways and get yourself ens snared this verse shows some discernment to be used in the relationships we develop we are called to love all people but we are not called to be in close personal relationships with those who are destructive to us Jesus himself showed the importance of setting boundaries sometimes he would
withdraw from the crowds to pray and seek Solitude he also did not entrust himself to all men knowing the hearts of men these therefore show that it is not only permissible but also necessary to set boundaries in order not to compromise our spiritual and emotional health while setting boundaries is required you should also seek God's wisdom in handling those who hate you james5 assures us if any of you lacks wisdom you should ask God who gives generously to all without finding fault and it will be given to you God's wisdom is available at any time
if you ask and his wisdom helps you were out complex and possibly difficult relationships with Grace and dis discernment it enables you to understand when to press in and when to pull back how to set boundaries and how to reflect his love in your response it would also be helpful to consult older Christian friends mentors or leaders the Bible says for lack of guidance a nation Falls but Victory is one through many advisers having supportive communities wherein you can share your problems may bring new insights and ways to deal with hatred they will help you
to stop making decisions based on emotion alone as much as what we have shared is foundational there are also practical ways to protect ourselves from being hated such steps are not about self-defense in the physical sense but about creating an environment where you can Thrive spiritually emotionally and relationally in the face of hostility among the most potent weapons with which we can arm ourselves against those who hate us is the weapon of prayer the use of prayer is something that greatly empowers when people despise us we learn from Ephesians 6 18 to pray in the
spirit on All Occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests through this God's protection wisdom and peace are welcomed into our lives we need to be able to intercede for those who hate us we should ask God to soften their hearts and draw them to repentance it not only lines up our hearts with God's will to pray for our enemies but it also lets loose his power into their lives another practical step toward protection includes surrounding ourselves with the supportive Christian Community the Bible in Hebrews 10425 presses the value of Christian Fellowship a supportive Fellowship
of Believers can offer encouragement accountability and prayer support as we Face challenging relationships a strong support network can help you keep things in perspective stay better grounded in your faith and sometimes help with practical help when needed we must realize that hatred often has spiritual Roots so spiritual warfare is important Ephesians 61018 outlines the armor of God which we are to put on to stand against the enemy schemes it includes the belt of Truth the breastplate of righteousness the gospel of peace The Shield of Faith the helmet of salvation and the sword of the spirit
the word of God putting on this armor equips us to stand against hate and hostility are these all the practical ways we can protect ourselves from hatred of course no here are some more practical ways of safeguarding yourself where hatred could lead to physical danger or hurt there is a time to make prudent decisions that guarantee self- protection this will involve seeking protection with laws such as restraining orders and removing ourselves from harmful environments Jesus told his disciples be as shrewd as snakes and as innocent as doves that is to be prudent and practically take
all precautions for safety while continuing to live with love and forgiveness another way of protection is to care for your physical emotional and mental health the ability to exercise eat well rest and find activities that help you manage life's pressures will keep you balanced and avoid burnout taking good care of yourself is not a selfish Endeavor it is basic being good stewards of these bodies and Minds God has entrusted you with understanding the nature of hatred and conflict can Aid you in knowing how to deal with such situations wisely books sermons and bible studies regarding
conflict resolution and forgiveness would also prove very helpful practice love and forgiveness as a daily task hatred is potentially endless every day deliberately release all offenses or hurts that you have harbored this practice helps prevent bitterness and keeps your heart free to love others including those who may oppose you forgiveness does not mean that we forget or condone in any way the wrong done but it does mean that we let the offender Go free from his debt to us and turn the matter over to God love and forgiveness profound L invite us to protect ourselves
from those who hate us love is more than an emotion it is a power whereby hearts can be changed wounds are healed and barriers are broken 1 Corinthians 13 often referred to as the love chapter gives Paul's definition of true love love is patient love is kind it does not envy it does not boast it is not proud it does not dishonor others it is not self-seeking is not easily angered and keeps no record of wrongs love does not Delight in evil but rejoices with the truth it always protects always trusts always hopes and always
perseveres love never fails this is something that cannot occur due to our ability but it's a love that takes flight in the power of the Holy Spirit God's love flowing through us can disarm hatred and heal broken relationships hatred can easily distract or discourage you for this reason you must stay focused on the purpose God has given you this is well illustrated by Nehemiah in the Old Testament despite his enemy's strong opposition and hatred Nehemiah refused to be swayed from his objective of rebuilding Jerusalem's walls to this Nehemiah answered them I am carrying on a
great project and cannot go down why should the work stop while I leave it and go down to you just like Nehemiah you must stay focused on the mission that God has called you to and not get derailed by the hatred of others while we are always called to feel responsible for our lives and take practical steps to protect ourselves the ultimate protector is God himself the Bible has great Promises of God's protection of his people Psalm 91 is one of the most powerful proclamations of God's protection whoever dwells in the shelter of the most
high will rest in the shadow of the Almighty I will say of the Lord he is my refuge and my Fortress my God in whom I trust when you trust the Lord you are assured that God is your refuge and Fortress this does not imply why that you shall never experience an attack or opposition rather it shall be in the sense that God is with you in every situation supplying much needed strength and protection Romans 129 reminds us that we do not have to avenge ourselves upon those who hate us for it is mine to
avenge I will repay says the Lord our faith in God's justice enables us to give up our right to retaliate and entrust the matter to his God is Sovereign and works all things out for good to those who love him even when hatred and opposition are the Prevailing attitudes even then we can know that he will work out the purpose of God in our lives the protection by God is Not only physical but also extends to spiritual and emotional protection he has promised to be with us in our trials and to uphold us with his
righteous right hand this Assurance steals our hearts to face hostility with courage and Faith God's protection extends to his guidance and Direction Proverbs 356 encourages us to trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding in all your ways submit to him and he will make your path straight As we look unto God for guidance he leads us in the right direction and clears us of pitfalls and dangers such Divine direction is in fact an important feature of his protective care we are called as Christians to live a life
in a world full of hatred but we do not go without protection such protection comes through understanding the Biblical view of hate Jesus's lesson on how to deal with enemies and taking some practical steps in protecting the heart and mind which can facilitate wisdom and peaceful navigation through difficult relationships setting boundaries looking to God for guidance and depending on a Christian Community are all facets of how we protect ourselves against people who hate us it is only the Lord who is our ultimate protection our refuge and our Fortress we can release our vengeful Tendencies and
respond with love and forgiveness trusting in God's Sovereign control and justice and then there is the hopeful promise of victory in Christ to endure because we are more than conquerors through him who loved us let us pray Father in heaven we come before you with grateful hearts and in reverence acknowledging your sovereignty and depth of Love toward us we are grateful for your presence as our refuge and Fortress our everpresent help in times of trouble as we move through a world in which hate and hostility can at times seemingly overwhelm we ask for guidance and
protection Lord I know hate is designed to tear down and breakthrough but I stand on your promise that no weapon formed against us shall prosper I pray for your protection over our hearts minds and Spirits when those standing in opposition against and even despise us protect us from their negative results and help our faith not be moved or shaken by their attack Lord I lift to you those who have shown us hatred and hostility I pray their hearts would soften and their eyes opened to your Truth and Love enable us to respond to them with
Grace and compassion when they are hard to understand may we reflect your love in returning good on animosity with an innocent life of kindness and forgiving them teach us to love those who might be our enemies and pray for them even when they persecute us just as your word commands us father give us wisdom to set healthy boundaries and protect ourselves from further hurts help us know when to press in and when to create some space between us and those toxic relationships give us the courage to stand and our ground yet not to close off
our doors to any opportunity for reconciliation and healing may your spirit guide our actions and responses to each situation with wisdom and Grace I pray for your strength to forgive those who have wronged us since to forgive is a choice that must be made daily and is not always easy since hurt feelings are often involved help us to release any bitterness or resentment we are still holding on to and fill our hearts with your peace teach us what it means to forgive just as you have forgiven us so this forgiveness will witness the changing power
of your presence in our lives I pray too for strength to set our eyes on the purpose you have set before us help us not to be distracted or discouraged by the hostility directed against us but let us go on Comm ourselves to do the work you have called us to do Empower us to live lives of Faith with integrity and to be a light in a world that desperately needs your love dear Lord thank you for Perpetual love and protection we commit ourselves and our interests to you knowing that you are our shield and
Fortress May our life be an expression of your grace and a reflection of Your Love even in adversities in jesus' name we pray amen if this video has blessed you kindly subscribe to this channel like it and share it with your friends
