Our Lord Jesus, in Matthew 18:15-20, commands every Christian whose Christian brother or sister, in some way “sins” against us, to privately go to them, explain how they wronged us, and try to get it corrected, but if they refuse to change or right the wrong, then take two or three others with us, so every word spoken is heard by all present, and if this does not correct the sin problem, then tell the church leaders, so those in authority can reason with the offending brother or sister, but if that fails, then forgive them, turn them over to God, and pray for their salvation.
Then, our Lord Jesus, completes these commands with gathering two or three Christian brothers or sisters, so they can pray with us about the situation, for our Lord Jesus promises to be present in this company of praying Christians, so Father God can hear and answer our prayer.
The Lord says in Joshua 23:10, “One man of you shall chase a thousand, for the LORD your God is He who fights for you, as He promised you”.
In Deuteronomy 32:30, the Lord tells us one can put a thousand to flight, because the LORD, our Rock, has sold them to us as “fleeing slaves”, “How could one chase a thousand, and two put ten thousand to flight, unless their Rock had sold them, and the LORD had surrendered them”?
But here our LORD God also is warning us this exact thing can and will happen to us if we sin against someone and do not make it right, for He will also fight against us, by selling us to them as “fleeing slaves”, for we always reap what we sow (Galatians 6:7), meaning, whatever we do to others God will make sure it also happen to us, but usually in greater proportion.
What our LORD God—Father, Son, Holy Spirit—wants from those of us who have been wronged, not only from a Christian brother or sister, but also from a non-Christian, a person in authority that uses their authority and power to control, be unjust, or persecute us, is for us to partner with the Godhead, “in persistent prayer of faith working through love” (Galatians 5:6), so He can save them, turn their lives around, so they believe, love, and serve Him, which is what God says in Ezekiel 22:23-31, because no one ever becomes too sinful for God to change.
As we read Ezekiel 22:23-31, notice how this is a word-picture of what is happening today.
Ezekiel 22:23-31—23 And the word of the LORD came to me, saying, 24 “Son of man, say to her (Israel): ‘You are a land that is not cleansed or rained on in the day of indignation.’ 25 The conspiracy of her prophets in her midst is like a roaring lion tearing the prey; they have devoured people; they have taken treasure and precious things; they have made many widows in her midst. 26 Her priests have violated My law and profaned My holy things; they have not distinguished between the holy and unholy, nor have they made known the difference between the unclean and the clean; and they have hidden their eyes from My Sabbaths, so that I am profaned among them. 27 Her princes in her midst are like wolves tearing the prey, to shed blood, to destroy people, and to get dishonest gain. 28 Her prophets plastered them with untempered mortar, seeing false visions, and divining lies for them, saying, ‘Thus says the Lord GOD,’ when the LORD had not spoken. 29 The people of the land have used oppressions, committed robbery, and mistreated the poor and needy; and they wrongfully oppress the stranger. 30 So I sought for a man among them who would make a wall and stand in the gap before Me on behalf of the land, that I should not destroy it; but I found no one. 31 Therefore I have poured out My indignation on them; I have consumed them with the fire of My wrath; and I have recompensed their deeds on their own heads,” says the Lord GOD.
Our Lord Jesus, in Matthew 11:25-30, says He is our Sabbath of rest, for He gives Himself to all who come to Him for peace, rest, and relaxation, because we were not created to endure stress and trauma in any part of our spirit (intuition, communion, conscience), soul (emotion, mind, will), and body (carnal, flesh); therefore, God intended the Lord Christ (Acts 2:36; Colossians 3:23-24) to be our total Completeness (Colossians 2:8-10), so let Him be this to us.
Praying daily in the Holy Spirit is not an option; it is an absolute necessity, commanded by God for His children must partner with Him, so heaven can be filled with obedient children.
Jim Nabors
