bless your enemies

Years and years ago I attended a ministers conference in another state and was gone for a week. When I came back I found that a clique of disgruntled church members tried to hold a coup. Seven people wanted my church but they didn't want me or my doctrines, which is the Word of Faith. As I sat in my chair praying, the Lord said this to me: If you let Me handle this I will separate these seven people and there will be no split. I quickly agreed and that night the ring leader called me and wanted to talk. He came to my house and told me they didn't agree with my teaching; they had a Baptist background. The seven left peaceably but then they started telling lies about me. I went back to the Lord to find out what I should do, He gave me a Scripture.

Mathew 5:44 I say to you, love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you and persecute you.

I knew God was right as usual but my flesh was crying for vengeance. I knew a lot about their personal life and I wanted to stand before the people and expose all the silly things they did but the Lord said no. I submitted to the Lord and then I asked Him what He wanted me to pray for them. He said pray for whatever you would want people to give you, pray blessings over them. It felt weird at first but I knew I was doing what I was instructed to do. It became easy to pray for them because the Holy Spirit led me in those prayers.

A year later we began to build this church and about two thirds into the project, we ran out of money for material. I prayed and asked the Lord what to do and He didn't tell me, but the next offering was so big it paid our bills and had enough to buy the material we needed. I thanked our Lord and then I asked Him why He did it that way, usually He would have me sow a seed into a pastor's building project. Here's what He told me: when you prayed for your enemies you prayed they would have building materials, they would not receive your prayers so I gave their blessings to you!

Mathew 7:12 Therefore all things whatsoever you would that men should do to you, do you even so to them: for this is the law and the prophets.

When you pray blessings, those are things that you yourself would want and if your enemies refuse them they will come to you. This is a spiritual law established by the prophets. Take care now, if you pray a curse on your enemies, it could come back on you. Eye for an eye and tooth for a tooth was not revenge, it was punishment for bad behavior. Jesus said the law was established by the prophet.

Leviticus 19:18 You shall not avenge, nor bear any grudge against the children of your people, but you shall love your neighbor as yourself. I am the Lord.

If you read the Ten Commandments and obey them, you will be demonstrating a love for people. If you love God with all your heart and your neighbor as yourself, you will have kept all the commandments. You cannot hate anyone you pray for because prayer is the release of love. Praying for your enemies is not a weakness, it takes a measure of strength and a considerate amount of faith. Bless your enemies.