Someone asked me recently how to handle the swirl of negativity that the enemy frequently unleashes around the followers of Jesus Christ. More specifically she asked how I handle the untruths and false statements that circulate about me. As many of you may know, the past several years Bev and I have been viciously attacked verbally. In light of that, and in light of people spreading rumor and innuendo about her, my friend asked me how to handle it.
We need to be aware that Jesus predicted that verbal attacks, false accusations and mocking, would occur to those who follow Him. (The servant is not greater than His master.) In fact He told us that those attacks are a doorway to blessings. However, that knowledge does not necessarily make it easier to endure the pain inflicted by the words and actions of people.
So how do we receive God’s blessing in the midst of the crap? For me, the key has been to hear what the Father has said and is saying about me. In the life of Jesus, twice the voice of the Father broke in and called Jesus “My beloved son”. Both times the declaration preceded a difficult and dark time in Jesus life – once before He was tempted by Satan in the wilderness and once immediately before the last days of His life.
If we are to live abundantly in the midst of the voice of the enemy attacking us, we must know what the Father says about us. For me, the latest round of false accusations was preceded by several times when I deeply heard the affirmation of the Father. That affirmation carries me through the swirl of rumors. I know deeply that I am a beloved son to Him. He has invited me to sit at His table and participate as a son.
The knowledge of the words of the Father will begin to free us from our bondage to the opinions of people. That freedom is a double-edged sword. We no longer operate according the accepted rules of people and religion (freedom). However that fact only intensifies the attacks on us. Those who choose the way of religion and bondage will become more vociferous in their attacks as they realize they can no longer control us.
Their words meant to humiliate us actually become the doorway to greater blessing. When one first begins to experience the verbal attacks, the humiliation can be overwhelming. In actuality, the humility we experience is part of the pathway of Christ. Those who are broken and humiliated are those who most deeply experience the reality of Jesus Christ. As we begin to identify with His suffering, we can be sure that we will become partakers of His glory!
It is helpful as well to remember that truth is patient. Truth always triumphs. False realities, rumors, and accusations eventually crumble; they cannot sustain the weight of time. That which is true will remain and be seen over the course of time.
Our affirmation and validation must first come from the voice of the Father. As we hear His voice, the voice of truth, we forge ahead with the business of the expansion of His kingdom regardless of the swirl of negativity from the mouth of the enemy.
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
2 comments:
I have told many friends over the years "Those who know you will know the truth, and those who believe the lie didn't know you, so why let their opinions affect you?" It hurts, I know, but sometimes it shows us truly who and what is real in our lives. But on a note of caution: be careful to discern the lies from the truth because "The wounds of a friend are faithful, but the kisses of an enemy are full of deceit" Proverbs 27:6. That is why it is important to know who we are in Christ and seek His will, so we know when we are being attacked with lies by the enemy for being in His will and when we are being guided by the truth so that we are more in line with his will.
I would agree that we must look for any truth in the accusations. In reality the accusations can become blessings depending on how we handle them.
Post a Comment