HelpFinder Bible - Flipbook - Page 111
page A109
Where can I turn when I feel overwhelmed by those who are against me?
• J O SH U A 1 7 :1 2 | But the descendants of Manasseh were unable to occupy these towns
because the Canaanites were determined to stay in that region. (See note on page 208.)
One of the first steps to defeating our enemies is to realize that they may be more determined than we are.
• PSA L M 7 1 :1 -5 , 1 4 | O Lord, I have come to you for protection; don’t let me be disgraced.
Save me and rescue me, for you do what is right. . . . O Lord, you alone are my hope. I’ve
trusted you, O Lord, from childhood. . . . But I will keep on hoping for your help; I will
praise you more and more.
• PSA L M 1 4 3 :9 | Rescue me from my enemies, Lord; I run to you to hide me.
When you feel overwhelmed by opposition, turn to God and not away from him, for he
is the only one who can really help you. Although your enemies may think they have you
trapped, they underestimate the power of the One you serve.
• PSA L M 5 :8 | Lead me in the right path, O Lord, or my enemies will conquer me. Make
your way plain for me to follow.
Follow God’s direction and instructions. You may be out of options, but he is the God of
unlimited resources. Only he can show you the way to victory.
• E Z R A 8 :3 1 | We broke camp at the Ahava Canal on April 19 and started off to Jerusalem.
And the gracious hand of our God protected us and saved us from enemies and bandits
along the way.
Trust God for the outcome. Evil cannot defeat God, so if you are on his side, ultimate
victory is sure.
What does it mean to love my enemies?
• R O MA NS 1 2 :2 0 -2 1 | “If your enemies are hungry, feed them. If they are thirsty, give
them something to drink.” . . . Don’t let evil conquer you, but conquer evil by doing
good.
Showing love to one’s enemies is always unreasonable—unless you realize that you were
once an enemy of God until he forgave you. When you love your enemies, you see them as
Christ does—people in need of grace. Getting to that point takes prayer. You can’t pray for
someone and not feel compassion for that person. This is how you can refrain from retaliating when that person hurts you, and this is how God can turn an enemy into a friend.
• PR O VE R B S 2 5 :2 1 -2 2 | If your enemies are hungry, give them food to eat. If they are thirsty,
give them water to drink. You will heap burning coals of shame on their heads, and the
Lord will reward you.
• L U K E 2 3 :3 4 | Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they don’t know what they are doing.”
And the soldiers gambled for his clothes by throwing dice.
• MAT T H E W 1 8 :2 1 -2 2 | Then Peter came to him and asked, “Lord, how often should I
forgive someone who sins against me? Seven times?” “No, not seven times,” Jesus replied,
“but seventy times seven!”
• L U K E 6 :2 9 | “If someone slaps you on one cheek, offer the other cheek also. If someone
demands your coat, offer your shirt also.”
Respond to your enemies—no matter what they try to do—with forgiveness. Your actions
toward your enemies should include prayer for them as well as acts of kindness. Your
words should be gentle. Your attitude should not be one of revenge or ill will. This is what
Jesus would do. And this is what sets you apart from the rest of the world.
• I SA I A H 5 3 :7 | He was oppressed and treated harshly, yet he never said a word.
• 1 PE T E R 3 :9 | Don’t repay evil for evil.
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• DE U T E R O NO MY 2 0 :1 | “When you go out to fight your enemies and you face horses and
chariots and an army greater than your own, do not be afraid. The Lord your God, who
brought you out of the land of Egypt, is with you!”
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• MAT T H E W 1 0 :2 8 | Don’t be afraid of those who want to kill your body; they cannot touch
your soul. Fear only God, who can destroy both soul and body in hell.