HelpFinder Bible - Flipbook - Page 110
page A108
Encouragement continued
PROMISES FROM GOD
• PSA L M 3 4 :1 8 | The Lord is close to the brokenhearted; he rescues those whose spirits are
crushed.
• G A L AT I A NS 6 :9 | Let’s not get tired of doing what is good. At just the right time we will
reap a harvest of blessing if we don’t give up.
• J O S H U A 2 3 :1 0 | “The Lord your God fights for you, just as he has promised.”
• 2 C O R I NT H I A NS 1 :5 | The more we suffer for Christ, the more God will shower us with his
comfort through Christ.
Enemies See also Evil; Persecution; Spiritual Warfare; Terrorism
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Enemies are people who oppose us. They may dislike or even hate us for something
we’ve done or for something we stand for. Whether our enemies are opposing nations
or playground bullies, the Bible gives specific instructions on how to deal with them.
No matter who our enemies are and how they’ve wronged us, Jesus tells us not to seek
revenge but to love them and pray for them. Jesus does not tell us to be a doormat and
let them trample us, nor does he tell us to be like them. Jesus himself stood against his
enemies. He tells us to keep their best interests in mind and treat them as we would
hope to be treated. When we find it hard to love our enemies, remember we were all
once enemies of Jesus before believing in him. And yet he still showed his love by dying
on the cross for our sin so that we could live forever with him.
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How do my enemies try to hurt me?
• G E NE S I S 3 :1 | The serpent was the shrewdest of all the wild animals the Lord God had
made. One day he asked the woman, “Did God really say you must not eat the fruit from
any of the trees in the garden?”
Your enemies try to hurt you by tricking you into sin.
• 2 C H R O NI C L E S 3 2 :1 0 -1 5 | “This is what King Sennacherib of Assyria says: What are you
trusting in that makes you think you can survive my siege of Jerusalem? . . . Don’t let Hezekiah
deceive you! . . . No god of any nation or kingdom has ever yet been able to rescue his people
from me or my ancestors. How much less will your God rescue you from my power!”
Your enemies try to hurt you by confusing you about right and wrong, good and bad. They
will try to divide you from those who support you.
• E Z R A 4 :1 -3 | The enemies of Judah and Benjamin heard that the exiles were rebuilding
a Temple to the Lord, the God of Israel. So they approached Zerubbabel and the other
leaders and said, “Let us build with you, for we worship your God just as you do. . . .” But
Zerubbabel, Jeshua, and the other leaders of Israel replied, “You may have no part in
this work.”
Your enemies will try to hurt you by sweet talking you into compromising your faith and
lifestyle.
• J U DG E S 4 :3 | Sisera, who had 900 iron chariots, ruthlessly oppressed the Israelites for
twenty years. Then the people of Israel cried out to the Lord for help.
• J O S H U A 1 7 :1 6 | The descendants of Joseph responded, “It’s true that the hill country is
not large enough for us. But all the Canaanites in the lowlands have iron chariots. . . . They
are too strong for us.”
Your enemies will try to use intimidation and oppression to stop you from taking a stand
for what you believe.
• J U DG E S 1 6 :5 | The rulers of the Philistines went to her and said, “Entice Samson to tell
you what makes him so strong and how he can be overpowered and tied up securely. Then
each of us will give you 1,100 pieces of silver.”
Your enemies will try to find your weak spot so they can use it against you.