CONCERT OF PRAYER

Pray Week 713

“Revenge”

Rom 12:14-21 (NIV) Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse… Live in harmony with one another. Do not be proud… Do not be conceited. Do not repay anyone evil for evil… If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone. Do not take revenge, my friends, but leave room for God’s wrath, for it is written: “It is mine to avenge; I will repay,” says the Lord. On the contrary: “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.
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Our world society values getting even and taking revenge. Movie and Television audiences cheer when the ‘bad guy’ gets his due by the hand of those that were victimized. Growing up as children, our parents admonished us not to start a fight, but if caught up in one, to definitely finish it. Is it any wonder then that conflict exists and that it can be found in every microcosm of society, our families, workplaces and yes, even our churches.

Revenge causes us to miss God’s grace: Make every effort to live in peace with all men and to be holy; without holiness no one will see the Lord. See to it that no one misses the grace of God and that no bitter root grows up to cause trouble and defile many. – Heb 12:14-15 (NIV)

God’s Word of exhortation to us to live in peace and to not allow any bitter root to grow runs counter to our human nature. We miss God’s grace when we take matters into our own hands and decide to pay back wrong for wrong. The reference to ‘heaping burning coals’ on the head of our enemy is not an act of revenge as can be visualized. It’s meaning is that by treating our enemy better than they treat us, God’s Spirit of conviction can work on softening and melting their hardened heart and bring about repentance.

God’s grace, a Divine influence upon our hearts, is reflected in our lives by peace and love responses in the face of adversity and hurtful treatment by others. The key to overcome our vengeful nature and for the nature of God to manifest itself instead is prayer and continual communion with God.

…Live in peace with each other…Make sure that nobody pays back wrong for wrong, but always try to be kind to each other and to everyone else. Be joyful always; pray continually; – 1 Th 5:13b-17 (NIV)

Unforgiveness and the desire for revenge bring forth the root of bitterness and it steals our joy and peace. It is the cup of poison that we drink thinking that we are hurting someone else. It makes our homes, workplaces, and churches a toxic environment that we dread to enter into. It divides us apart from relatives and breaks fellowship within the Body of Christ. Unforgiveness quenches the work of the Holy Spirit and hinders your testimony of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. It destroys individual and corporate productivity in the workplace and is a wasteful drain of energy, time and resources.

Imagine having ‘Peace that surpasses all understanding’-Phil 4:7 in the midst of persecution, torment, and unfair treatment by your enemies. It is possible – when we do not miss God’s grace.

As individuals and as leaders with authority, begin with prayer and do everything possible to not let revenge and the root of bitterness establish itself in your hearts, families, churches, or work places. Come against such evil and discord in the power and authority of Jesus’ Holy Name.

Close in prayer, thanksgiving & rededication of your work to the glory of God.