“Who Is Persecuting Who(m)”

Galatians 4:28-31

28) Now we, brethren, as Isaac was, are the children of promise.

29) But as then he that was born after the flesh persecuted him that was born after the Spirit, even so it is now.

30) Nevertheless what saith the scripture? Cast out the bondwoman and her son: for the son of the bondwoman shall not be heir with the son of the freewoman.

31) So then, brethren, we are not children of the bondwoman, but of the free.

O

ne might find oneself becoming the type of person who finds himself “in church” even though he complains all the time. If this is you, have you ever wondered “why?” Most likely it is that before you were born, you were to be a “link” to someone else. No matter the test and no matter the trial, we must all come to understand that we are not “in control.” He Who has control is in control at all times.

The scripture explains to us that the one who is born after the flesh is he who persecutes. That being the case, who, then is persecuting whom?

Too often, when we find ourselves attempting to make someone “pay” (defend ourselves), we believe that we are justified. What we would like to get the Lord to believe is that we have a “right” to vengeance because of what others do to us.

Here is what we must know: nowhere in the scriptures do we find anywhere were saints persecute sinners. In other words, “persecution” is carried out by those who are not saved. So, no matter how “justified” one might like to find oneself, you cannot afford to be on the “wrong side” of God.

It is possible that “well-meaning,” but “misguided” people can find themselves in the wrong “role” (that is, believing that one is doing the Lord’s work while actually working against Him.) One of the best-known examples of this is the apostle Paul. You see, he persecuted Jewish Christians because he actually believed that they had done the wrong thing in turning to Jesus. So, though he was sincere, he neither had, nor knew the truth.

The truth is that anyone who persecutes is wrong before the Lord and there is no justification that can be presented that will excuse the persecutor. Whenever one interferes with another’s privilege, he cannot be doing the “right thing.”

You see, every man has the right to his own decision about whether or not he will serve the Lord. You can neither force one into nor prohibit one from pursuing a relationship with the Lord. Because of the natural “bent” of Man, if one is to have a hope of choosing Christ, he will need to be “helped.” This is because Man, in his “natural” state has no clue what it takes to please God. However, as “helpers,” we must always remember that we can help no one if that individual is not receptive.

There is nothing concerning the kingdom of God that is not spiritual. But, as long as Man insists upon thinking as a human being, he will conduct himself as a human being and spiritual principles will elude him. We would do well to remember that all in salvation is reversed from operation in the human world.

Too often, an excuse that we use for not doing the Lord’s will is that we “don’t know how.” This argument will not stand up to scrutiny, for no one needs to be a “genius” to anything that God says—because it is He Who does it! Though we must agree to do as He says, He does the work!

Isaac was the “son of promise” and so, was born after the spirit. He who was born of “Agar” (Hagar) was born after the flesh. Indeed, Ishmael (being the one representing the flesh) was the one who “persecuted” Isaac.

The Spirit that we are “of” does not “hurt” people because they do not want to hear. Rather, the Spirit exists that Man might be helped. “Help” means many things and is manifested in many ways, but some of the greatest help that Man needs is help to learn to praise God for everything that comes in this life.

One will know that he is operating in faith when he is able to manifest that praise. Only by exercising faith will even greater faith be built. The moment we allow our faith to be destroyed, our testimony, too, is destroyed.

It is doubtful that we understand exactly how harmful it is to the cause of Christ when we attempt to “take over.” When we get into “God’s business,” we make it impossible for anyone to see His greatness.

Often, our “meddling” is a “reaction” to why we think that “things” have happened to us. What we sometimes believe is that God does not “like” us or that someone “hates our guts.” As opposed to how someone does not feel, the Lord allows things to come into our lives because He, alone, knows our potential and He wants to make something “great” of us. Under these circumstances, what better to do than to start “warming up” to praise when we perceive opposition coming.

If the Lord would “shield” us from trials and tests, then He would not be God, for He would be “dooming” us to “failure.” Since trials makes us “strong,” if He would refuse to allow them, we would remain “weak” and without hope.

We need to accept exactly what we are “of” if we find ourselves in “defensive mode.” Once we identify someone is persecuting us, whether we are correct or not, we could find ourselves becoming the “persecutor.” At the same time, before we call children, mates, or brothers and sisters our “enemies,” we should take a look in our mirror and ask, “Mirror, mirror on the wall, who’s the greatest ‘persecutor’ of all?” Why does this topic merit so much “press?” Because it is not in the Spirit of God to persecute. He never has and never will persecute us.

Jesus came to show us that all that Man has and is is inferior to what He is—and can offer. Therefore, when He came, He “reversed” everything. Wisdom became foolishness; greatness became equal to “service,” rather than being served. All that is left for us to do is to accept “the motive of the ministry” as our own. Then, we will be able to be sure that our answer to the question posed by this message is “Not I.”