13 Oct 2011 6 Comments
Free from the Stronghold of Vengeance
The stronghold of vengeance sets in when we think we have a right to injure, harm, or humiliate someone [to take revenge] to retaliate for a real or imagined wrong. But the Lord says he has the right. Not us.
God will avenge those who belong to him at the right time. But his timing is not ours. There’s a reason for his seeming slowness in taking revenge. We have no right to judge what we don’t understand. God is not willing for any [of his] to perish.
When we harbor vengeance, we invite hate, violence, rage, unforgiveness, malice, and many other demonic strongholds into our lives. Vengeance is not righteous anger. Righteous anger hates sin, not the person committing the sin. It does not replace one sin for another.
In our desire to get even, we neglect the new commandment that Jesus gave us under the new covenant and we neglect the greatest commandment he pointed out to us.
Ephesians 2:15
5 Biblical tips to overcome vengeance:
1. Allow God to take over your right to a vendetta.
Genesis 50:19 And Joseph said to them, Fear not; for am I in the place of God? [Vengeance is His, not mine.]
Psalm 94 O LORD God, You to Whom vengeance belongs, O God, You to Whom vengeance belongs, shine forth!
2. Trust God to know what he is doing, how he should do it, and when the time is right. Only God knows when, if, and how revenge should take place. It might not be in your lifetime.
Isaiah 34:8 For the Lord has a day of vengeance, a year of recompense, for the cause of Zion.
Jeremiah 51:36 Therefore thus says the Lord: Behold, I will plead your cause and take vengeance for you. I will dry up her lake or great reservoir and make her fountain dry.
3. Have self control. Ask God to give you self control and for vengeance to leave your thoughts, especially if you harbor a desire for revenge.
Romans 12:19 Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave the way open for [God's] wrath; for it is written, Vengeance is Mine, I will repay (requite), says the Lord.
James 4 What causes fights and quarrels among you? Aren’t they caused by the selfish desires that fight to control you?
4. Let love replace revenge in your heart. God is not willing for any to perish so his patience to others can confuse us. Only God knows the time, the day, and the hour for [His] revenge to take place.
Deuteronomy 32:43 Rejoice [with] His people, O you nations, for He avenges the blood of His servants, and vengeance He inflicts on His foes and clears guilt from the land of His people.
Job 19:29 Then beware and be afraid of the sword [of divine vengeance], for wrathful are the punishments of that sword, that you may know there is a judgment.
5. Keep the new commandment an the greatest commandment in mind when you are tempted to take, or think of, revenge.
Hebrews 12:24 And to Jesus, the Mediator (Go-between, Agent) of a new covenant, and to the sprinkled blood which speaks [of mercy], a better and nobler and more gracious message than the blood of Abel [which cried out for vengeance].
Hebrews 12:25 Be careful that you do not refuse to listen when God speaks. Your ancestors didn’t escape when they refused to listen to God, who warned them on earth. We certainly won’t escape if we turn away from God, who warns us from heaven.
Have you received your free copy of Biblical Solutions for Cultural and Social Issues in the World Today study guide? [written by Pola Muzyka]
Oct 16, 2011 @ 23:02:58
lol found your page when searching for different shoe brands, dont know how that happened!
Oct 17, 2011 @ 08:40:13
Maybe something here needs to be considered in your life. GBY
Free from the Stronghold of Victimization « Pola Muzyka's Blog
Oct 25, 2011 @ 13:31:21
[...] Free from the Stronghold of Vengeance (polamuzyka.wordpress.com) [...]
Free from the Stronghold of Rage « Pola Muzyka's Blog
Oct 27, 2011 @ 13:12:40
[...] Free from the Stronghold of Vengeance (polamuzyka.wordpress.com) [...]
Free from the Stronghold of Indignation « Pola Muzyka's Blog
Nov 04, 2011 @ 15:05:27
[...] Free from the Stronghold of Vengeance (polamuzyka.wordpress.com) [...]
Free from the Stronghold of Regret » Pola Muzyka's Stronghold Smashers
Feb 14, 2012 @ 12:53:33
[...] why an individual, a nation, group, or society repeats mistakes. Stubbornness, embarrassment, revenge, indignation, sloth, rebellion, defiance, selfishness, negligence or just plain foolishness can be [...]