Let’s see how the “persecuted for righteousness sake” (Matt.5:10) scripture unfolds. The root of this blessing is righteousness. Righteousness is an offensive move toward a God-goal, and the persecution is generated because of it. This verse does not say, blessed are the persecuted for theirs is the kingdom. Many have made persecution the focus and left people with a tendency to glorify persecution, even if the conflict is not about righteousness. For example, it’s not about righteousness when a zealous person wants to witness to get another notch in their pistol and they take every opportunity to throw pearls before swine (Matt 7:6). That’s persecution for obnoxiousness’ sake. In the office, when a Pharisaical legalist points out every sin and calls down hellfire, he’s persecuted for condemnation’s sake. The zealot and legalist are not being persecuted for righteousness’ sake. However, from the ripple effect, even though these people have misrepresented God and generated their own persecution and bruises, they become the defensive victim, and being a defensive victim is a common view of Christianity, but not sonship.
(This is an excerpt from an article by Kathy Gabler entitled “Offense: The Kingdom In Action” in which she talks about the advantage of moving from merely a defensive strategy to an offensive strategy.)
Posted by Marty Gabler |
May 24, 2013 | Categories: Uncategorized | Tags: 1 Thessalonians 4:17, Apostle, Barbara Yoder, Beth Moore, Bible, Bill Johnson, blessing, Body of Christ, celebrate, CFNI, charismatic, Chuck Pierce, church, Cindy Jacobs, circumstances, comfort, condemnation, destiny, dreams, Dutch Sheets, encouragement, faith, father, FMCI, future, gifts of the Spirit, glorify, god speaks, grace, happy, healing, Holy Spirit, hope, Identity, intercession, Israel, Jeremiah 29:11, Jesus, Jim Goll, Jim Hodges, Joyce Meyer, Kathy Gabler, Kim Clement, Kingdom of God, Lakewood, Lance Wallnau, life, manifestation, Marty Gabler, Matthew 5:10, Matthew 7:6, Myles Munroe, obstacles, persecution, power of god, prayer, problems, prophecy, prophesy, prophet, prophetic, prosperity, purpose, rejoice, religious zeal, Rick Joyner, righteousness, salvation, Savior, SEEC Ministries, sons of God, sonship, spiritual warfare, success, TD Jakes, victorious, victory, visions, Will of God, wisdom, word of god | Leave a comment
Now that’s not to minimize persecution or say that being in the crossfire is fun or easy. It wasn’t easy for Esther when she was caught in such crossfire, but she did not throw up her hands and take on a victim-attitude. Persecution does not equal “victim” or “martyr.” We should not automatically just cower. Esther didn’t, and we can learn from her. The opposite of being a victim is to fight wisely, activate God’s countermeasures and get a God-strategy. Daniel and the three Hebrews were persecuted in the crossfire of King Darius’ corrupt court, but a victim would have been a lion’s lunch or crispy fried chicken in the fiery furnace.
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